Biography

The world lost a beautiful soul this Christmas December 25, 2010 when Carl R. Patzwaldt passed away peacefully at his home in Ellensburg. He was 93 years old and his was a well-lived life.

He was born July 14, 1917 in Bayview, WA on Whidbey Island to Max and Lillie Patzwaldt.

Carl graduated from Langley high school on Whidbey Island and went on to attend W.S.U. in Pullman where he played baseball and was President of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He was an ardent Cougar fan his whole life. His love of sports, especially football brought him countless hours of joy until the end of his life, when he still wanted football to be playing on the TV. He enlisted in the army in Feb. 1942 and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Warrant Officer. He served in the ski troops 10th Mountain Division in Colorado. It was in the Engineer Unit at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri that he met his wife-to-be, Osa Raye Samuel. They were married in Feb. 1945. Theirs was a wonderful marriage for 62 years. They were once described as being stuck together like “Velcro” because where you saw one, you always saw the other.

Carl worked for the Washington State Game Dept. for 30 years. During those years he and Raye lived in Okanogan, Wenatchee, Chelan, Spokane, Mt. Vernon, and Soap Lake. He retired in 1977 as Regional Manager for Region II in Ephrata. Many of his most enduring friendships were formed while working at the Game Dept. After retirement he moved back to his beloved Whidbey Island. There he continued to fish, crab, and clam just as he had done as a child growing up during the depression. He often talked about how Whidbey was a wonderful place to live during those troubling times because of its natural abundance of wildlife, seafood, and fertile soil where you could grow anything in the garden. It was there that his love of hunting and fishing first took root, and he was forever thankful that his job with the Game Department enabled him the opportunity to work outdoors doing what he loved. His other favorite place was the Chiliwist in Okanogan County. There he had very dear friends with whom he hunted every year until he reached his nineties. He loved taking his grandsons there and showing them his favorite places to hunt and instilling in them his respect for wildlife and the outdoors.

In 1992 Carl and Raye moved to Ellensburg to be closer to their grandsons. Not long after that move, Carl was diagnosed with liver cancer and not expected to live. It was at this time that his youngest daughter and her family moved in with them. Miraculously, his cancer was treated and he recovered. Cancer would try numerous times to claim his life, but was not able to beat his strength and fighting spirit.

Carl was, above all else, a family man. He was extremely well respected by his friends and co-workers. As many have said "It was a privilege to have known him.” He adored his two daughters and was a devoted dad from the moment they were born. He would hurry home from work to play with his girls when they were little. Someone once commented to his eldest daughter that she had a real "Leave it to Beaver" life. It was true.

His loving, teaching attitude continued with his two grandsons, Max and Gannon, and not surprisingly, to their close friends. To his grandsons and these young friends Carl was affectionately known as "Am". He was a true gentleman and role model for those fortunate enough to be around him. Carl will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but remembered for his great stories, generous spirit, sweet nature, and wonderful smile. He left his unique and indelible mark on this world, and the world is better for it.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Osa Raye, his sister, Tudy Johnson, his niece, Dr. Judy Caryl Dove, and his parents.

Carl is survived by his two daughters, Rita (Phil) Matthes of Coupeville, WA and Carla (Tim) Maggard at the home in Ellensburg; two Grandsons, Max and Gannon Maggard of Ellensburg; one sister-in-law, Helen Helm of Tulsa, OK; three nephews, Jay Loy Helm of Tulsa, OK, Larry Johnson of Henderson, NV, and Fred Dove of Muskogee, OK; one niece, Linda Parks of Redmond, WA; four great-nieces and two great-nephews; cousins including the Maxine Lang family in Anacortes, the Verna Goldthorp family on the South end of Whidbey Island; and many dear friends, young and old.

Carl was laid to rest at Bayview Cemetery on Whidbey Island next to Osa Raye and his parents. A memorial service will be held this summer on Whidbey to celebrate Carl's life. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to his favorite charity Paralyzed Veterans of America (http://www.pva.org).