In tiefer Trauer um Freund, Kollegen und Mentor Karl „Wutze“ Crailsheim.
In deep mourning for friend, colleague, and mentor Karl „Wutze“ Crailsheim.
With Karl Crailsheim (17.11.1950 – 15.10.2026) the honey bee community in Austria and globally lost one of the strongest and most remarkable personalities. Wutze, as his friends called him, was a biologist at the university of Graz, who dedicated his life to the research of honey bees and education of students. He was a reknown and frequently invited speaker in beekeeping events or popular conferences. He literally travelled the world, presenting his research, the photo on top was taken when he visited the Ukraine in 2017. Karl was also enthusiastic, when it came to university politics. Consequently, he served two periods as dean of the faculty of sciences, interimistic head of the department of botany, among many other academic functions. Next to those, he served at Apimondia as head of the biology commission and many years in the COLOSS executive comittee. He lead Austrian research projects, most notably the ministry funded „Zukunft Biene“ projects 1 and 2, where we investigated honey bee health in Austria on a large scale. His research resulted in many scientific publications, so many that we produced two printed books of his journal papers, we handed him over for his retirement.
Next to this, Wutze was a gentle and humorous person, so me and many other of his students have evolved strong bonds to this remarkable personality. This makes it so difficult to accept that we will not go for another lunch soon. Wutze lived only few minutes walk from the university, so we could meet even in the years after his retirement. The photo below shows him at one of those lunches in June 2026. Wutze not only showed us how to research the honey bee and introduced us to the international honey bee research community. Much more he taught us how to survive in academia and live, he always had a good advice, and mostly, he lived life so intensively. His agenda was always fully booked, beginning in the morning with students lectures and ending in the evening with charity or cultural events.
We will miss our mentor and friend.
Robert Brodschneider, for Wutze’s former students.
A longer, more personal obituary will follow in Bee World
One of our great bee researchers has left us.
Thank you, Robert, for sharing your very personal memories. This is also how I remember Karl, from the very beginning of the important international COLOSS network in 2008. He was always active and constructive, and it was a pleasure to meet him and his wife, Ingeborg. They showed curiosity, openness and a special politeness. I enjoyed those conversations. They travelled all over the world and clearly enjoyed each other’s company.
Karl was one of Europe’s most important bee scientists. He was always searching for answers and always open to discussion. I have so many good memories of him.
May he rest in peace.
It was an honour to collaborate with Professor Dr. Karl Crailsheim and to know his family. Today, here in Ukraine, we fondly remember his visit to Chernivtsi University in 2017, his inspiring conversations with Ukrainian beekeepers, and his genuine interest in our culture. I also remember with immense gratitude the time and attention he so generously gave me during my visits to Graz. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Professor Crailsheim’s family and loved ones. May Wutze rest in peace. We will remember him as a dedicated scientist and a sincere, wise, and generous person.
With deepest respect and gratitude,
Mariia Fedoriak and the team of the Department of Ecology and Biomonitoring at Chernivtsi National University
https://nnibhb.chnu.edu.ua/novyny/novyny-kafedry-ekolohii-ta-biomonitorynhu/pamiati-profesora-univesytetu-m-hrats-doktora-karla-krailshaima-in-memory-of-professor-dr-karl-crailsheim-university-of-graz
The passing of Prof. Dr. Karl Crailsheim is a profound loss, not only for the scientific community but also for all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. I have admired him deeply, not only for his outstanding scientific mind and wisdom, but equally for his profound love and devotion to his beloved wife, Ingeborg, his thoughtful worldview, and the grace, dignity, and diplomatic elegance with which he carried himself in every professional setting. Since 2008, I have felt truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside him within COLOSS, where his knowledge, insightful perspectives, and exceptional diplomatic skills have contributed so much to the organisation and to all of us. I last saw him in February 2026, at the Monitoring Workshop in Graz, where we had such a lovely conversation, unaware that it would be our last. His kind offer to personally show me around and host me during my next visit to Graz touched me deeply and remains a particularly precious memory. It is difficult to accept the loss of such an exceptional scientist and gentleman, whose intellectual brilliance was matched by his humanity, refinement, and generosity of spirit. Dear Karl, it was an honour and a privilege to have shared part of this journey with you. May you rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies go to his beloved wife, Ingeborg, and all those who loved him. You will be profoundly missed and fondly remembered.
I only had the honour of getting to know Karl Crailsheim during the last few years of his long and rich career in bee research– he as project lead in the major Austrian bee project Zukunft Biene and I as a new researcher in the bee health community. Therefore, others are better placed to speak of his achievements and influence within the bee research community. For me, however, he will forever be connected to these exciting years: as kind motivator, as a curious and challenging mind. When I remember him, many warm stories come to my mind: his travels with Ingeborg; the joy with which he spoke about visiting his sons and grandchildren; the stories about the begin of winter colony monitoring; or even discussions about architecture and history; and always, always, his gentle and respectful manner. Wutze, I am ever so glad, that I had one last chance to meet you and Ingeborg in February 2026 at the COLOSS event in Graz!
My deepest sympathies are with Ingeborg and her family. May you get all the love and strength and care, that you need in this time of deep grief.
I have lost a friend and a mentor.
Our field has lost an internationally recognized expert with remarkable social skills.
Wutze will be remembered.
My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Karl Crailsheim! I will never forget that he treated everyone with respect and took his time to answer. Despite only being a young master student back in 2003 from a different University, he would take considerable time in replying sincerely to a letter I sent from Brazil with questions on pollen nutrition and digestion abilities at different life stages in corbiculate bees. I will always remember him not only as highly knowledgeable but also as highly generous when it comes to share his knowledge. It was the way he treated his listeners when discussing issues. At that time, it was still quite widespread in Austria that professors of his generation would treat young researchers with significant arrogance. He was a delightful exemption and good example. Thank you Karl Crailsheim!
Ich habe 4 Jahre (1972 – 1976) gemeinsam mit Wutze und anderen am Zoologischen Institut für Tierphysiologie als Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft unter dem Institutsleiter Univ. Prof. Dr. Herbert HERAN arbeiten und forschen dürfen.
Beide haben wir an unseren Dissertationen gearbeitet. Ich habe Wutze als sehr feinen Menschen mit freundlichem Entgegenkommen erleben dürfen. Da sein späteres Forschungsgebiet die Honigbiene war, möchte ich nur erwähnen, dass das Thema meiner Dissertation „Untersuchungen zur Tiefen-wahrnehmung der Honigbiene (Apis mellifica)“ gewesen ist. Mein Doktorvater war Prof. Dr. H. Heran. Falls jemand interessiert wäre, kann ich sie digital senden.
Experiencing Professor Karl Crailsheim as a student or later knowing Wutze as a colleague, his dedication to science and teaching always stood out. In his courses, he showed his broad knowledge with impressive depth and precision, always taking time for details. As a colleague and as a person, I felt he lived for research with passion. Even in retirement, he continued to attend academic events, follow current findings with genuine interest, and offer valuable input. I will remember him with deep gratitude, and my sincere condolences go out to his family.
Prof. Dr. Karl Crailsheim war in meiner Studienzeit eine absolute Autoritätsperson. Bei Lehrveranstaltungen immer im weißen Labormantel auftretend umgab ihn immer die „Aura“ des allwissenden Professors, bei Seminaren war man daher immer sehr gut vorbereitet, um sich keine Blöße zu geben, denn er konnte durch kleine feine spitze Bemerkungen vor allen anderen auf die unzureichende Vorbereitung hinweisen. Als ich dann viele Jahre später als Tutorin in diesem Kurs mitarbeiten durfte, machte sich das bezahlt, denn bereits am zweiten Kurstag meinte er, zu meinem Entsetzen, ich könne das ja alles und könne die Einführung und das Prüfen nun übernehmen.
Mit den Jahren und hier besonders während meinen Dissertationszeit, lernte ich aber auch einen ganz anderen Menschen kennen. Kollegial und humorvoll, immer wieder mit den Studierenden und Kolleg:innen eine rauchen gehen (sehr oft geschnorrt) und obwohl ich nie geraucht habe, stand ich öfters dabei, weil es so lustig war. Außerdem unglaublich interessiert an allen Fragen der Natur und des Lebens und natürlich besonders der Honigbiene. Dieser Blick über den Tellerrand hinaus, das Interesse, die Toleranz und Weltoffenheit auch gegenüber anderen Weltanschauungen das soziale Engagement und das Fördern von Künstler:innen. Diese „Kultur“ in seiner Arbeitsgruppe hat uns wohl alle am Institut für Zoologie geprägt.
Einer der wohl unangenehmste Momente bezüglich Prof. Karl Crailsheim war, als er mir das „Du-Wort“ angeboten hat und ich ihn von nun an „Wutze“ nennen musste. Das kam nur schwer über die Lippen, es klang einfach zu despektierlich!
Lieber Wutze (inzwischen geht es mir leicht über die Lippen), Danke für dein Interesse und deine Unterstützung und all das was wir bei Dir gelernt haben und wir auch unwillkürlich weitergeben!