Kenneth Richard Carl

Kenneth Richard Carl, age 74, left his family on earth to watch over them in Heaven on January 15, 2020. He was born on May 26, 1945 to the late Luther and Hazel Skaggs Carl in Mahoning Township, Pennysylvania.

Ken's family moved to Toledo, Ohio as a child and he attended Hopewell, Shoreland and Longfellow elementary schools. Ken attended and graduated from DeVilbiss High School (1959-1963). After high school he attended the University of Toledo until he found his career calling and completed a five-year apprentice, journeyman and master level programs in plumbing/pipefitting through Local 50 Plumbing and Pipefitters Union.

Ken ran a bait shop in Northwest Toledo on Laskey Road for several years until he began working as a full-time plumber/pipefitter. During his plumbing career, he became part owner/team member of Hawkins Plumbing in West Toledo and enjoyed his partnership. After his partnership, Ken shared his skills with the City of Toledo Plumbing Inspection Department where he served as a plumbing inspector to help guide plumbers in required permits and proper installation of plumbing and retired in 2004. He also delivered Garlic Expressions salad dressing and would often have his son Deric assisting him from 1992-1997. In retirement, Ken held private and public instruction for other plumbers in recertification.

Ken shared his birthday of May 26th with his wife Nancy of 50 years. He was five years her senior but would tease that she was older when introductions were made to new people. She would always correct him on the spot. Ken and his wife Nancy married June 12, 1970 at St. Agnes Church in Toledo, Ohio and welcomed daughter Kelli in 1976 and son Deric in 1980. He was especially proud of his children throughout their childhood and the people that they have become today.

On January 28, 2014 Ken was given the gift of a kidney donation from his daughter and has honored that gift by taking care of himself and family and sharing his love and laughter with family and friends. Ken and Nancy moved to the Columbus area after the transplant to be closer to and spend time with Kelli and Deric and the grandchildren. The family has celebrated together the transplant success by attending together the OSU Wexner transplant pinwheel planting ceremony honoring donors and recipients.

Ken had a fond interest for Civil War and WWII history. He enjoyed helping with the plumbing, planning and construction plans of his children's homes and being Grandpa/Poppy to his five grandchildren. He attended school, sport and other activities of his grandchildren with much pride in their accomplishments. He and Nancy shared in the great joy of spending time with their children and grandchildren. Ken and Nancy worked with their grandchildren on a special Christmas project for their parents in 2018 where they built wooden reindeer and, in the summer of 2019, Poppy showed them how to paint the back fence that he built. He was always teaching his grandchildren how to use tools safely. He was hopeful and proud of his grandsons' participation in Boy Scouts of America as he had been a Boy Scout in his youth and loved the beauty and spunk of his granddaughters and individuality of all his grandchildren. Ken found great pleasure cuddling his little grandchildren in his big Lazy-boy recliner where they would read books, watch movies and just be near him. He also enjoyed spending Disney vacations with his grandchildren and watching their amazement.

Ken enjoyed walking with Nancy at Thompson Park in Upper Arlington where they shared appreciation of the beauty of the park and would often read about the trees and park bench memorials. In honor of Ken, a Memorial bench will be placed at Thompson park in the spring of 2020 along the walking path frequented by Ken and Nancy.

Ken's family wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to family, friends and neighbors for their emotional support during this painful time. A special thank you to our spouses Eric and Anna for watching over our families and giving Nancy, Kelli and Deric cherished last moments with husband and father.

In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by sister Bettie Jean Hackenburg, Reynold Middlesworth and Charles James Middlesworth.

He will be incredibly missed by his loving wife of 50 years Nancy, adoring children Kelli (Eric) Ensman, Deric (Anna) Carl, and cherished by his grandchildren: Chase, Madison, Alec, Eva and Isaac; stepsister Tina Carl Stelnicki, sisters-in-law: Alberta and Isabelita Middlesworth, brother in law Niles Menard and wife Cheryl; nieces, family members, friends and neighbors. His beloved cocker spaniels Scarlett and Abby will miss their buddy.

God looked around His garden and He found an empty place.

He then looked down upon this earth and saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering.

He knew you were in pain.

He knew that you would never get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb.

So, He closed your weary eyelids, and whispered, "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn't go alone, for

part of us went with you the day God called you home.

Author Unknown

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Franklin County Dog Shelter or your local animal shelter

American Heart Association

National Kidney Foundation

Family will receive friends

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Schoedinger Northwest Chapel

1740 Zollinger Road, Upper, Arlington, Ohio 43221

3:00PM-8:00PM

Mass of Christian burial

Thursday, January 23, 2020, 10:00AM

at St. Andrew Catholic Church

1899 McCoy Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43220

Internment at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery

9571 High Street/US 23, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

Memorial Luncheon to follow internment at St. Andrew Catholic Church