Carl L. Wetzel

July 10, 1936 - December 10, 2021

Carl L. Wetzel, age 85, of Tamaroa, Illinois, formerly of Pitman, Pennsylvania, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 10:30 p.m. at his home. Carl was born on July 10, 1936 in Pitman, Pennsylvania, a son of Albert A. and Sarah (Smith) Wetzel. He married Antoinette Thomas on January 4, 1957 in San Juan, Puerto Rico and she survives. Carl answered the call of his nation, proudly serving in the armed forces for twenty years. For three years he served in the United States Army, and for seventeen years he served in the United States Air Force. During his career, Carl worked as a nurse anesthetist at multiple Air Force bases, the V.A. Medical Center in Marion, Illinois, Sunbury Community Hospital, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, and for a number of years for Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin, Illinois, until he retired. Carl enjoyed many hobbies, including gunsmithing and leather-working. He made bridles, saddles and buggies. He especially enjoyed participating in Fort de Charte rendezvous re-enactments. Carl was a member of American Legion Post #647 in DuQuoin, Goshen Trail Long Rifles, the N.R.A., the A.T.A., and Rend Lake Flying Club. Survivors include his faithful wife of nearly 65 years, Antoinette Wetzel of Tamaroa; one daughter, Beckie (Scott) Fluegel of Murphysboro, Illinois; two sons, Scott Wetzel (Debbie Planty) of Texico, Illinois and Bart (Susan) Wetzel of Hillsboro, Illinois; eleven grandchildren, Laura (Curtis, Sr.) Hubbard, Bradley Diedrick (Abbie Wesley), Lindsey Diedrick, Sara Fluegel (Collin Heseman), Lauren (Chase) Pledger, Kristin Wetzel (Corey Woerner), Tyler Wetzel, Joshua Wetzel (Alexandria Narez), Emily Wetzel (Eric Fuchs), Austin (Kelly) Clark, and Dillon (Elizabeth) Clark; six great-grandchildren, Caybren Hubbard, Curtis Hubbard, Jr., Liam Diedrick, Zoe Diedrick, Autumn Clark, Jayden Clark, and one on the way, Rori Diedrick; two sisters, Barbara (George) Kline of The Villages, Florida and Alice Kissinger of Pitman, Pennsylvania; one brother, Thomas Wetzel of Sunbury, Pennsylvania; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Roy Kissinger, Robert and Jacqueline Anderson, and Gwen Wetzel. As per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. A private inurnment will be held in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park Mausoleum with military rites accorded by the United States Air Force. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Clement Scholarship in Nursing Fund for anesthesia students’ tuition. Checks may be made payable to SIUE Foundation/C.R.N.A. Scholarship. Envelopes will be available and accepted at Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home, 31 Memorial Drive, Murphysboro, Illinois 62966. Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.