Carl, Richard Dale (1926 - 2013)

CARL, RICHARDS, JOHNS

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 11/23/2013 at 16:58:10

Name of deceased: Richard Dale Carl

Aged: 87 yrs, 1 mo, 23 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Aug. 16, 1926 in Harlan, IA

Died: Oct. 9, 2013; Little Flower Haven Nursing and Rehab Center, Earling, IA

Funeral services: Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, Pauley-Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA; Pastor Darwin Moore officiated. Burial, with Military Rites, was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA.

Survived by: Sons, Curtis Carl of Hays, KS, Bruce (spouse, Kathy) Carl of Harlan, IA; grandchildren, Keith (spouse, Nicole) Carl, Goeffery (spouse, Shanna) Carl, Jacob Carl and A. J. Carl; great-grandson, Lucas Carl; 1 nephew; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Donald and Edna (nee Richards) Carl; wife of 41 years, Joan (deceased Dec. 24, 1997); brothers, Victor and Jack

Education: attended school in Harlan, IA; graduated with the Class of 1944. A member of the Harlan High School football and basketball team, he was known as “Killer Carl”.

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: entered the U.S. Army after high school at Ft. Snelling, MN; assigned to the 31st infantry and served in the Asiatic Pacific and the Army of Occupation in Japan. Honorably discharged on Nov. 26, 1946. Enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on March 10, 1950, where his musical talent allowed him to join the 769th Air Force Band. He continued playing music in the band until receiving his Honorable Discharge on July 7, 1953.

Marriage: Joan E. Johns; Aug. 26, 1956; Schleswig, IA

Employment: worked as a bookkeeper as well as in parts and sales for Wigness Machine Shop before and after his service in the U.S. Air Force. In 1961, he went to work for Jacobs Tool as a bookkeeper and was later elevated to management. He retired from Jacobs Corp. in 1986 after 23 years of service.

Hobbies/Interests: One of his biggest passions was his love of music. As a long-time trumpet player, he joined the Earl Russell Orchestra in 1947; they became like a second family. He left the orchestra in 1963 to form the “Key Tones Combo” with R. D. “Pudge” McMahon, and remained as a fill in for the orchestra. Drawn back to music in his later years, Richard joined the “Four County Players” until they disbanded in 2006.

In August of 2009, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to the WW II Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. as a part of the Honor Flight Program. Richard was honored and so appreciative of the efforts of those that made that memorable experience possible; it was something he truly enjoyed. Richard was a member of the American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 where he also played ‘Taps’ at numerous military funerals.

Richard loved spending time on the golf course as well as many other activities, including watching sports, dancing, fishing, playing cards and shooting pool. Richard was a financially astute and mechanically-inclined person. He had a strong work ethic and took great pride in his work and music.

Sources: kjan.com; ancestry.com; pauleyjones.com; harlanonline.com