Carl Frederick Lepisto October 8, 1915 – September 10, 2013
Carl was born October 8, 1915, in Wakefield, Michigan. He was one of 9 children (#3). His father, Victor, was a bank president and mother, Mary was a school teacher. He attended public schools in Wakefield through High school, where one of greatest thrills was playing quarterback in football and on defense, intercepting a pass and running it back 85 yards for a touchdown. Because of the poor economy and great depression, after graduating in 1933 he had to go out and get a job to earn money for college. He worked for the Works Project Administration (WPA). The project was working on US Highway 12, the most northerly east-west USHighway in the United States. He set forms for the concrete.
His next job was with the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). This was a great Federal program that paid $30 a month, clothes, room and board. He went on in 1935 to Ironwood Community Jr. college for one year, then to the University of Michigan in 1936, Graduating with a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering-Structural in 1941. In 1940 he met a pretty nursing student at the University hospital named Delphia Lorraine Toney. They married on November 29, 1941. They remained married until her death in May 1994. Carl accepted a job in Pittsburgh with American Bridge Company (a subsidiary of US Steel Corp) doing structural steel detailing.
In looking for a better climate he obtained a job transfer from one war industry to another, accepting a job with North American Aviation in southern California…. after V-J Day he resigned from the aircraft industry and got a job with the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power where he worked for 32 years, retiring in 1978 at age 62.
Ater retirement he took a job as a food broker for 5 years then retired again to do volunteer work at the La Canada Library, Huntington Memorial Hospital, and delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. He was proud to be an active member of the Kiwanis Club and. A member of the Church of the Lighted Window in La Canada where he sang in the choir.
Carl and Lorraine moved from Los Angeles to La Canada in 1948 where they raised their 4 children: Frederick (deceased), Vic ( Sue) have 3 children, live in Agura Hills, CA, Carol (Jim Nettles) have 2 children, live in Tacoma,WA, and David (Janise) live in Tajunga, CA. His grandchildren are Shara (Sweeney), Jessica (Hilderman), Ryan (Nettles), Garrett, Braden, Jeremiah, John, and Justin. Carl was also blessed with 10 great grandchildren, MacKenzie and Drew Hilderman, Maisie and Lawson Nettles, Michael, McKara, Donovan, and Fiona Sweeney, Layla Lepisto, and newborn Callen Lepisto.
Carl remarried in 1994. His wife Eva Forsell died and Carl moved to Gig Harbor, WA in 2009 where he loved living until January 2013, when he moved to the Weatherly Inn, memory care, in Tacoma.
Carl met his dear friend and constant companion Jan Skittlethorp the first week in Washington. They remained close until Carl’s passing. Carl also leaves 2 sisters, June and Fern, numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family.
Besides keeping busy with kids and grand kids Carl loved to play tennis, fish,snow skiing, ice skating,roller skating and waterskiing over the years. Lorraine and Carl traveled the US, enjoyed watching college football (UCLA Bruins, Vic played) and grand kids sports. they also traveled to Canada, Europe, and Japan.
Carl had a zest for life like no other. it was always hard to slow hom down, hence his nickname ” Rush”. he lived his life to the fullest and those who knew him loved him. he showed us all how to live the Golden Years…..keep moving, exercise, have fun, sing loud and clear, and love the Lord. Celebration of Carl Lepistos life will be held at 2 pm Tuesday October 8th (Carl’s 98th birthday) at St Marks Lutheran Church at 6730 N 17th St, Tacoma, WA 98406. Please join us.