David Robert Carl

David Robert Carl of New River, Arizona, passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at the age of 75. Dave was born on July 11, 1948 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin to Isabelle (Cummins) and Ardith Carl. Following graduation from Cuba City High School in 1966, he served in the U.S. Navy as a plane captain during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Oriskany and the USS Constitution, as well as assignments in Vietnam, Guam, and the Philippines. After discharge from the Navy in 1970, Dave attended Glendale Community College and then Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Mass Media Journalism and Forestry in 1978.

Dave was employed as a producer for the morning show at Phoenix Channel 3 KTVK TV for a number of years and as a newspaper reporter for the Casa Grande Dispatch. He always maintained a love and great talent for photography, influenced early on by his brother Jim. Dave established his photography business and continued in Dave's On Location Photography for over 31 years, until he retired his business 2 years ago.

Dave had great love for God, country, people, children of all ages and animals. He would make multiple immediate friends along his life's journey.

Dave came from a very large family including 9 brothers and sisters. Having spent summers as a boy working on his sister and brother-in-law's farm, his family gave him tremendous joy with many opportunities for outings, holiday parties, vacations, and never-ending event get-togethers throughout the years.

Besides his bible fellowship, Dave had a large circle of friends with whom he enjoyed sharing lunches and other special occasions. He especially liked to meet weekly with his friends at the Ben Avery shooting range and was a member of a shotgun trap team there for many seasons.

Dave maintained his love of photography even after he retired from his business over 2 years ago. He loved to travel and to take many beautiful photos to share, often posting them on his Facebook page upon returning home. After recently completing the building their new home, Dave took great pride in doing projects around the house, often accompanied by his brother Mike and nephew Christian.

He had a great love of music. He loved singing and playing his guitar for hours, filling his home with the sweet sound of his voice and his music, or turning up the volume loud on his truck radio when a favorite song would come on, saying that he now had the need to "rock out."

David is survived by his loving wife, Sonja (Heckendorf), with whom he shared over 27 wonderful years, and his 4 sisters, Kathleen Hampton (Jerry-deceased), Geri Klar (Franny-deceased), Rosemary McMillen (Harold-deceased), and Debbie Little (David), and his brother, Mike. Dave was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Maryann. Dave was also predeceased by his other sisters and brother-in-law, Nancy Smith (Roy) and Peg Leibold. He was recently predeceased by his brother, Richard "Dick" (Cynthia). He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews who will miss their Uncle ("Unc") and all of the fun times and more jokes than they could all count.

Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85023. The Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.phoenixmemorialmortuary.com for the Carl family.