Carl Francis Gangl

My beloved father Carl Francis Gangl passed away March 20th 2025 at the age of 98.

Carl was born May 27, 1926 in Yakima, Washington to Karl Godfried Gangl and Signa Thelma Hazel Moquet. Carl married Clara C. French in 1972 and they were married for 38 years. Carl married Ruth E. Boyd in 1948 and had two children, Carl Douglas Gangl and Christie Hazel Gangl. Carl is survived by Carl Douglas Gangl of Yakima, and grandson’s Zachary Aaron Thieme Gangl and Mackenzie Douglas Collins of Seattle. Carl is also survived by his nephew Michael Karl Adams and family, niece Vickie Lynne Bullard and family and cousin Alvin Gangl and wife Lila. Carl was predeceased by his wife Clara Gangl, his daughter Christie Gangl, half-sister Dorothy Woods and niece Elaine Tongate.

Carl graduated June of 1944 from Wapato High School. He started working for Yakima County Road department. In September of 1944 he went in to the Army for basic training and then home for ten days. He then sailed on a troop ship to New Guinea. He then served overseas in the Philippines Asiatic-Pacific Theater in combat as a rifleman. From there he was assigned to company B, 163rd Infantry Regiment and ended up in Hiro Japan. From Hiro he transferred to Tokyo and was assigned to the Honor Guard Company, General Headquarters, 8th Army. They were a white glove outfit that guarded The American Embassy and The Dai Ichi Building. He guarded General Douglas MacArthur’s office, and they rotated guards throughout the buildings. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946 and received a Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Star Victory medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, and an Army of Occupation Medal (Japan). He loved attending many reunions with the members of the 41st Division.

Upon his discharge from the service, he returned to the Yakima County Road Department where he retired after 30 years as a finish blade operator. He then joined the Operating Engineers Union and worked until his second retirement. He was proud to have worked on many important road jobs in Washington state including I-5. As a finish blade operator, he worked on I-5 from Seattle to the Canadian border with a special machine (CMI), of which there were only three in the United States. I had the pleasure to work on that project with him and he was the very best in his field.

Dad always had a project and kept himself busy with many hobbies. During his Jeeping days he rebuilt from the ground up a 48 Willeys that is still in the family. After many years as a mechanic on just about everything he switched to woodworking. He loved to make everything from tables to toys. He made wine from his own grapes and had a great garden every year. He was an avid player of Pinochle and was always looking for a game with friends.

Carl loved to travel as much as he loved people. Carl and Clara traveled by motorhome around the United States and hit all but three states. He and Clara were longtime members of the Ridgerunner’s Jeep Club. They participated in parades and for many years were involved in putting on the annual Jeep mud races. They went on Jeep runs every other weekend which I was lucky to attend many of. They joined Broadway Grange in 1982. He loved to build the grange exhibits every year at the fair and the many functions they were involved with. He joined the Apple Rovers Motorhome Club in 1994. He enjoyed 30 years traveling and camping with his friends. Carl was also a past member of the Eagles Lodge. Dad was the type of person who liked to lead, whether it was a Union meeting or a group of motorhomes on a mountain pass. He always told me he might as well lead, nobody else knew a dam thing, of course with that grin on his face.

Dad, you will be missed!

There will be a grave site service April 9, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Terrace Heights Cemetery.

Please join us for a reception at the Terrace Heights Grange immediately after the graveside.

Keith & Keith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.