Fred G. Carl

– Fred G. Carl, 85, of Lozeau, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2016, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Fred was born Oct. 30, 1930, in Buffalo, New York. His parents were Dr. Fred G. Carl Sr. and Lillian Andersen Carl.

Fred attended Mount Hermon Prep School in Gill, Massachusetts, and also Park High School in Buffalo. He was recruited to play football at Purdue University and attended school there. During a summer vacation on a trip to California, Fred traveled through Montana and fell in love with Big Sky country. This trip prompted Fred to transfer to the University of Montana, where he received his B.A. in education and was a standout member of the UM swim team during the 1952 and '53 seasons. He was also a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity while there.

Fred returned to Buffalo, where he met his wife-to-be, Joan Bennett. The two were married in 1955 and started a family soon after. Three of their children, Arlyne, Fred and Allison, were born in Buffalo, but the idea of returning to Montana was calling Fred back. In 1961, Fred and Joan packed up the family and moved back across the country to Missoula where Joan gave birth to their fourth child, Alane. Fred got his first teaching job at Hamilton High School as a biology teacher, where he also coached football, wrestling and track.

After teaching for several years, Fred transitioned into selling real estate. He sold property around western Montana for 38 years. During that time, Fred pursued a number of other business and personal interests. He was an active member of the Republican Party and was elected to the Montana State Senate in 1971. He very much enjoyed politics throughout the rest of his life and wrote numerous op-ed articles that were published in the Missoulian and other newspapers. Fred was an avid handball player and loved playing with his buddies, those who were "tough enough" to play handball instead of racquet ball, he used to say. He also loved backpacking and was a Boy Scout leader for several years. Among all his interests, sailing was his real passion. He and Joan spent time sailing in the Puget Sound, the Gulf of Mexico, and even won several races on Flathead Lake.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; and his two siblings, Dick Carl, Miami, and Lorraine Long, San Jose, California. He is survived by his brother, David and wife Diana Carl and his family of Houston; four children and their families, Arlyne Dreyer of Missoula, Allison Carl of Missoula, Alane (Tony) Durr of Missoula, and Fred (Susan) of Missoula; along with five grandchildren.

An early summer memorial service will be announced at a later date.


Read Fred Carl's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.