Moving tributes have been paid to Lifestyle Fitness chair and founder Baron Carl Gripenstedt, who has died suddenly one month shy of his 60th birthday.

Regularly referred to as a ‘legend’ of the health club industry, the Swede started Competition Line (UK) – the company behind Lifestyle Fitness – in 1982. His tireless efforts saw the Lifestyle Fitness chain enjoy considerable growth, with nearly 60 low cost clubs in the UK today and plans for several more in Europe.

A tribute on the Lifestyle Fitness website read: “Carl was a much respected, exceptionally talented business man and leader of people, he was a great motivator and humourist with a wonderful gift of being able to spread warmth and joy among friends, colleagues and strangers alike with his jokes and pranks.”

Work was only one of Gripenstedt’s passions, and his dedication to a raft of charitable causes – most notably homelessness – won him many admirers. Working closely with charities like Centrepoint and Sports Foundation, as well as homeless people he met on the street, Gripenstedt strived to bring joy to the least fortunate.

Industry mainstay Ray Algar, who featured Gripenstedt’s philanthropic efforts as part of his Gymtopia project, remembers a kind man who was deeply committed to his cause.

Over many years, Carl pursued the belief that his business could pursue a higher purpose beyond serving up a fitness experience to its customers," said Algar.

"He was passionate on the issue of homelessness and since 2011 Lifestyle Fitness clubs and centres have been working with the Centrepoint charity to help get young homeless people into safe accommodation. What started as a one-year project has turned into a long-term mission that I am sure will now be pursued with even more endeavour.

Carl was a great entrepreneur who had recently semi-retired from the business, but was on a business trip to Finland when he was found dead in his hotel room earlier this month (8 January). He is survived by his wife Ullabritt and five children: Lovisa, Thomas, Eva, Ebba and Elsa.

The funeral is to take place on 13 February at 1pm in Brevens Bruk, Sweden.