Carl W. Wise
October 27, 1926 – May 26, 2018
A memorial service to celebrate Carl’s life will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd., Kalamazoo, MI 49008, on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 11:00 AM. A time of visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service. Private interment will be at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park – North. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Zion Lutheran Church.
Obituary
Age 91, passed away surrounded by his family on May 26, 2018. He was born October 27, 1926, in Newark, Ohio to Harold and Lena (Crawford) Wise. A 1944 graduate of Newark High School, he served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1948. Carl worked for Montgomery Ward for 34 years and was employed seven years as a real estate agent, primarily for Chuck Jaqua Realtor. Outside of work, he loved fishing, gardening, tinkering, and golf. Carl served on the Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce as Vice-President for Governmental Affairs, volunteered for the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team, and was an elder and finance chairman for Zion Lutheran Church, where he was a longtime member. On June 27, 1954, he married Gertrude Golembeck, who preceded him in death in 1987. His parents, brothers Fred and Robert, and sister Betty, also preceded him in death. Carl is survived by his wife, Helen Dolan, whom he married on September 22, 1990, two daughters Gretchen Reist and Anne (Bill) Pfund, and a son Paul (Kristine) as well as six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
My deepest sympathy, Helen.
I will always remember Carl’s gentlemanly ways and sense of humor – a privilege to have him as my friend and colleague – Audrey DeVault
May God’s unconditional, never-ending love and the warm memories you have comfort you during this difficult time.
Mr. Wise was my boss when I worked at Montgomery Ward during my college years in the late 1970s. He was such a kind, fair man. I remember accidently dropping a $20 bill in the store, and found out that the cashier in the area I dropped it, gave it to a customer who claimed they lost it. I went to Mr. Wise, and in his kindsness and act of trust, he gave me $20. I am quite confident that that came out of his own pocket, but for a college kid it meant a lot. My prayers are with his family, I am sure they were raised to be the same good people that he was.