Karl Kirby Rosazza

Karl Kirby Rosazza was born September 22, 1940, in Hopewell, Virginia to Gratto (Jack) Rosazza and Dorothy Kirby. Karl passed away on March 16, 2026. He graduated from Staunton Military Academy in 1959 and enlisted in the US Army in 1960. After his military service had been completed, he moved from Hopewell, Virginia to Albuquerque, New Mexico to begin a job at Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company. There he met Barbara Ann Hafele, who worked as a telephone operator. They married in Albuquerque in 1967. Over his 38-year career, he worked at Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, Mountain Bell, Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone (Va.), AT&T, and US West and served many business and residential customers in the greater Albuquerque area, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and the Williamsburg, Va. area. After his retirement from US West, he worked at Ron Peterson Firearms, where he furthered his love of working with firearms and striving to perfect his gunsmithing skills.

Karl was an active member of the National Rifle Association, Albuquerque Trap Club, Belen Shooting Sports Association, Zia Rifle & Pistol Club, and New Mexico Gun Collectors Association. He enjoyed participating in shooting sports including, but not limited to, Small Bore, High Power, and Trap Shooting. Participation in the National High-Power Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio and competitions at the NRA Whittington Center were highlights of these activities.

Karl spent many years mentoring and coaching youth and adults in firearms safety and the shooting sports and was an instructor for New Mexico Game & Fish Hunter Education. He was a resource for firearms knowledge and was sought out by fellow gun club members for gunsmith work.

Karl was a proud US Army Veteran and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, organizations he joined in recognition of his ancestors who served in the military. He also belonged to the American WWII Orphans Network (AWON) in remembrance of his father who was killed in WWII.

Karl loved spending time with his family, attending his children's and grandchildren's events, and staying connected with friends and loved ones. Dear friendships developed through his career, his time at Ron Peterson's, his shooting sports and coaching activities, and the SAR and Confederate Veterans organizations. The doctors, nurses and staff who cared for him at the New Mexico Cancer Center were all near and dear to him.

Karl was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law. He is survived by his wife Barbara, his son Jack and his wife Jennifer and their children Dmitri, Xaveria and her husband Andrew, Isabella, Castalia, Ryan, and great grand-daughter Zoey, his daughter Jenny Polson and her husband Josh and their children, Cassidy and Zachary, and his daughter Jessica.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to these deserving organizations: 

The New Mexico VA Fisher House (a beautiful home away from home for the families of Veterans receiving care at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Health Care System) through their website: https://www.va.gov/new-mexico-health-care/programs/new-mexico-va-fisher-house/

The New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation through their website: https://www.thefoundationnm.org/