Carl H. Piethe

Carl H. Piethe, 92, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2019, at Sunrise Senior Living of Edmonds, WA. He was born on February 19,1926, in North East, PA, to Pauline and William Piethe. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Shirley Jean (née Page), in 2015.

He is survived by his four loving children: Lynda (Bruce) Riekels of Jordan, AR, Christine Kieso of Naperville, IL, Ronald (Sara) Piethe of San Jose, CA, and Annette (Arthur) Vahratian of Mill Creek, WA; his cherished grandchildren Ryan Riekels, Carlene Kieso, Greg Kieso, Robyn Ostrander, Mark Kieso,Brian Piethe, Mark Piethe, Kristie Keith, Alyssa Vahratian, and Audrey Vahratian; great-grandchildren Layne, Landon, Sam, Luke, Charles, Page, and Willow; and his brother, Gerhardt (Margaret) Piethe of Concord, CA.

Carl Piethe

After graduating high school in North East, PA, Carl served in the United States Navy during WWII in Bremerton, WA. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley, on September 1, 1948, and they enjoyed the next 67 years of their lives together. Carl graduated from the University of Detroit and went on to work for the Detroit Edison Company, from which he retired after a long career working as an electrical engineer. In 1997, Carl and his wife moved to Mill Creek, WA, where they were able to enjoy retirement years with family.

Carl was a committed family man who had varied interests; he enjoyed vegetable and rose gardening, creative woodworking, home improvement projects, following sports teams, fishing, and travel. He enjoyed the results of Shirley’s prowess in the kitchen, especially anything with raisins. In later years he became a reminiscent storyteller, always enjoyed jokes and phone conversations, and developed an avid interest in hummingbirds.

He was a member of Augsburg Lutheran Church in Redford Township, Michigan, and later Mill Creek Community Church in WA.

Although Carl will be sorely missed, his family takes great comfort in knowing he is walking in God’s Garden with his beloved Shirley.

Memorial donations may be made to Mill Creek Community Church, 16415 North Road, Mill Creek, WA 98012, in memory of Carl.