Carl F. Wetzel

Carl F. Wetzel (96) of Butler passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Sewickley Hospital. He fought the good fight. He finished the race.
 
Born December 31, 1925, in Cabot, PA, he was the son of Karl R. Wetzel and Elnora Kroneberg Wetzel. The spelling of his name was changed when he enlisted to fight in World War II. He was known as “Sonny,” “Dad,” “Grandpa,” “Pap,” and “Great Grandpap.”
 
Carl retired from Armco, where he worked in the inspection department. He was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, where he counted the collection money for many years. 

The list of things he loved was long. They included being with his family, golfing, trout fishing, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Camp At Last, paint-by-numbers, chicken livers, Florida, Knoch School District, sweet wine, Alaska, hand pies (especially coconut cream), cooking buckwheat pancakes, cutting grass, maintaining the most impressive sock tan-line around, and getting his hair cut short. 

The list of things to love about him was longer. He doled out many unforgettable phrases, such as “Heavenly days,” “It’s tooty fruity time,” “I knocked the hide off,” “Don’t fiddle-faddle around,” and “Home again, home again, jiggety jog.” He painted Christmas ornaments every year for his family, who quickly ran out of space to display them. He was a fixture at birthdays, weddings, baptisms, graduations, sporting events, dinners, and often just stopped by. His birthdays on New Year’s Eve were festive, including the last one, which was an international online event. He was tech-savvy, using his iPad and iPhone for videocalls, news, and games. He was a frequent flyer and could be heard singing “Lemon Tree” or “By the Sea” on long drives south, down back roads. He was gentle, kind, wise, good-humored, contented, capable, sharp as a tack, and persistently independent. He was loved.
 
He is survived by his three devoted children, Connie (Carter) Tackett of Gibsonia, Carla (John) Patarini of Findlay Township, and Kevin (Leanne Govan) Wetzel of Butler, who were always by his side. He was deeply cherished as the last grandparent to his four grandchildren, Sean (Supriya) Tackett, Justin Tackett, Kaitlyn (Josh) Hutton, and Kelsey Wetzel. Like his father before him, he had several great grandchildren: Theodore, Sanay, and Mila. And his brother Fred (Delores) Wetzel of Grove City and relatives Kim Wetzel and Denise (Robin) Crow supported him to the end. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Marie Keasey Wetzel and a brother, Laverne (Audean) Wetzel. The rest of his family and friends are too many to name here.

In his unique manner of speaking, Carl often emphasized sentences by adding “so it is.” May his many years serve as a constant reminder: Life is good, so it is.
 
Friends will be received on Friday, June 3, 2022, from 3:00pm-7:00pm at Fox Funeral Home, Inc., 410 W. Main Street, Saxonburg.
     
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 10:00am at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 330 Hannahstown Road, Cabot with Rev. Ben Berteau officiating. Everyone please meet at the church.
 
Interment will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates.
 
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot or Animal Friends (Rosie’s Rule), 562 Camp Horne Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

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