Carl Wiewandt

Each stroke chipped away at his life, but Carl Wiewandt was a half-glass-full kind of guy. Unable to drive, talk clearly, or get around without a walker, Carl rarely complained. The 89-year-old Port Clinton man lived at home, where he enjoyed sitting in his comfy recliner watching TV on a big screen and daily visits from his dear friend Norma Smetzer. Meals prepared by Ottawa County Senior Resources and Home Instead aides were tasty, and members of his extended family were always stopping by or calling. Life was a thumbs up. But his optimism was no match for a massive stroke on Easter, and on April 17 Carl died at Stein Hospice Care Center. Born in Fremont, Carl is a graduate of Fremont High School and Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and proudly served our country from 1943-46 in the Panama Canal. Last year he flew to Washington DC on Honor Flight to tour the World War II Memorial, and returned home exhausted and elated. In 1949, he married Evelyn Cleveland of Clyde, the couple wearing matching tweed suits at their wedding. Carl took a job at Standard Products, and worked there as a chemical engineer until his retirement in 1988. Though passionate about his political beliefs, Carls greatest outpouring of expression was directed at his family five children, 12 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren. He often said he was the luckiest man in the world to have such a crew. Good genes, he would add, with an elbow jab to the nearest family member. He took up woodcarving, turning his garage into a wood shop. He carved angels and ducks and figurines and proudly gave them to family and friends. He never owned a boat, but found plenty of opportunities to go fishing on Lake Erie with friends. His freezer was always stocked with perch and walleye, but as his health declined, the frozen catch dwindled. The last bag of perch was eaten Christmas Eve. Carls favorite holiday was May 27, his birthday. In recent years he donned a silly Winnie the Pooh birthday hat with twinkling lights, and happily posed for cameras. He was looking forward to blowing out 90 candles. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Clinton and the Port Clinton Elks. Carl is preceded in death by his beloved wife Evelyn, parents Paul and Fannie Wiewandt, sister Dorothy Maloy and brother Edward Wiewandt. He is survived by brother Paul Wiewandt, children Barbara Vance Raymond, Carol Imes Charles, Becky Donahue Patrick, Frank Molly Kavanaugh and William Lisa, grandchildren Ted Vance Michelle, Heather Joseph Knueven, Adam Carolyn Vance, Jennifer Tracey Coslin, Christopher Dawn Imes, Nicole Imes, Bill Kimberly Donahue, Sarah Donahue, Ben Donahue, Cody Wiewandt, Jordan Wiewandt, Katy Wiewandt, great-grandchildren Bailey Donahue, TJ Coslin, Amber Vance, Maya Vance, Jacob Knueven, Nora Vance, and special friend, Norma Smetzer. Visitation will be 4-7PM, Friday, April 19, 2013 in the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Clinton. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. James Lehman at 11:00AM, Saturday, April 20, 2013 in St. John Lutheran Church, Port Clinton. Memorial donations to honor Carl may be made to Stein Hospice or St. John Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com