Obituary: Karl H. Senner

Karl H. Senner, founder of Karl Senner, Inc., passed away after a lengthy illness on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Mr. Senner was born in Marienburg, Germany in 1931. He immigrated to the United States in 1952. Mr. Senner was a veteran of the United States Army. After a mechanical apprenticeship, Mr. Senner was hired by Enterprise Engine Company in Oakland, Calif., where he supervised power plant installations. Enterprise Engine Company transferred Mr. Senner to the marine engine division, eventually moving him to the New Orleans area. In 1962 Mr. Senner became a partner in a startup venture company, Green Senner, Inc. which eventually expanded to include a tug company, Green Senner Towing. Green Senner, Inc. became the North American distributor of Reintjes marine transmissions in 1967. Karl Senner established Karl Senner, Inc. in 1972 in Metairie, La., retaining the distributorship for Reintjes marine transmissions. In 1973, Karl Senner, Inc. moved to its current location in Kenner, La. Karl Senner, Inc. acquired the North American distributorship for BERG Propulsion AB in 1982. The Year 2001 saw the acquisition of North American distributor rights for Steerprop Oy, a propulsion system supplier. Karl Senner is survived by his wife, Gerda, sons, Ralph and Michael, daughter, Heidi Means, and seven grandchildren.