Karl Edward Peters, 85, of Granby, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Born June 6, 1939, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to the late Norman Julius and Lethel (Wolter) Peters.
Karl received his BA from Carroll College, his M.Div. at McCormick Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. at Columbia University.
Karl was a professor emeritus of religion at Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, where he taught for almost 30 years, a former adjunct professor of philosophy, University of Hartford, and a former adjunct professor of religion and science, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago. He also was the former editor and then co-editor of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, and was a founder, organizer, and first president of the University Unitarian Universalist Society in central Florida. His passion, scholarly research, and teaching focused on issues in science and religion, including the concept of God and evolution, epistemology in science and religion, world religions and the environment, and religious and philosophical issues in medicine. Karl was active in the development of Religious Naturalism and published three books exploring this subject.
Since 1972 Karl was an integral part of the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS). He was a past president, a vice president for conferences, and was co-chair of the annual IRAS conference seven times. He was also a president of the Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science, which is an IRAS partner in publishing Zygon. Karl loved attending the IRAS summer conference on Star Island, NH and found joy in sharing the experience with his family.
Karl was blessed with two loving marriages. In his own words: “My first wife Carol Dzemske Peters was an independent minded, hardworking IBM systems engineer and an equal companion in many of our memorable life-adventures together. Rev. Marjorie (Marj) Hall Davis has gifted me with three adult children and their families and has been intellectually, morally, and religiously my soul mate since our marriage in 1999. I am so fortunate.”
He met his first wife, Carol, in the choir at Carroll College. After many years together she passed away from cancer on March 20, 1995. Karl had known Rev. Marj Davis from her active participation in IRAS; they were married November 13, 1999, and she passed away February 24, 2019
Karl is survived by stepchildren Paul Davis of Granby, CT, Anne and her husband Bob Pickart of Falmouth, MA, and Mark and his wife Valerie Davis of Granby, CT. As well as grandchildren Jana, Matt, Sarah, David, and Greg Pickart; and Amelia and Nora Davis. Also, personal assistant and caregiver Mari Perreault, who was so helpful to Marj and Karl in their later years. In addition to Carol and Marj, Karl was predeceased by both parents, Norman and Lethel Peters as well as his beloved stepmother, Alice (Krautsch) Peters.
A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Granby Congregational Church, UCC South Campus, 242 Salmon Brook St, Granby, CT 06035. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science at, https://www.iras.org or the Star Island Permanent Trust at, https://www.starisland.org. For directions, online memory and condolence please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com