Carl W. Schmittle

Carl W. Schmittle, 70, of Elgin, died peacefully at his home June 8 with family by his side.

A graveside service will begin at
1 p.m. Saturday at the Elgin Cemetery. A potluck will follow at the Elgin Community Center at 2 p.m. for friends and family.

He was born Feb. 12, 1940, the first child to William "Bill" and Alta Schmittle in La Grande.

ln 1961 Carl met Verna Lampkins while driving wheat truck. Later that year Carl and Verna were married. The couple had three children and were married for 49 years. They lived in La Grande for several years while he worked for Union Pacific Railroad. In 1967 the family moved to Elgin where Carl worked for Boise Cascade Corp. at the stud mill. During the next 40 years the family owned three homes in Elgin.

Family events were common at the Schmittle household. Many people still remember the Schmittle family Easter egg hunts each year for everyone, even the adults. Carl would be the first to tell attendees "there is still a $5 egg hidden somewhere around the property."

Carl was a big man who would help anyone and rarely ever asked for help in return. Carl was skilled in a way that he could fix almost anything. Carl had a sign in his shop that said "broken toys and hearts mended here." He spent many hours tinkering around the shop or listening to the radio during the week. On Sunday morning, he liked listening to the oldies station.

The shop doors were normally open waiting for people to stop by and talk.

Carl loved early mornings at daybreak second only to watching sunsets with his wife.

Carl loved to hunt but valued family and friends more. Carl would comment that it's nice to actually get something but the planning for the next hunt or just getting ready to go can be the best part. Telling stories to his grandkids and teaching them skills always made him smile.

The newest hobby Carl had acquired was smoking on his new barbecue. The barbecue once again was a way to bring his family and friends close together around the kitchen table, in the shop or on the deck.

Survivors include his wife, Verna Schmittle of Elgin; brother, Richard and his wife, Sue Schmittle, of La Grande; sister, Sue and her husband, Bruce Petersen, of La Grande; his children from eldest to youngest, Ron and his wife, Lynn Schmittle, of Lewiston ldaho, Tammy and her husband, Jerry Hays, of Pendleton and Bill Schmittle of Hermiston; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Alta Schmittle; and Shawnee Hintermeister, a granddaughter.

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