Carl Wedge

As family and friends can surely attest, Carl Wedge truly understood the secret to a life lived to the fullest. He was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times. Nothing brought Carl greater joy than surrounding himself with his loved ones, and he was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others. His primary focus was building deep and personal relationships with those around him. Dearly loved, Carl will be forever missed by those who knew him best.

The early 1950s were among some of the most influential years for the United States. Following the end of WWII, the baby boom was underway and the economy was flourishing. Our nation also became a country of 50 states with the addition of Alaska and Hawaii. It was during this exciting time that William and Marjorie (Dirkse) Wedge of Kalamazoo, Michigan, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. On April 4, 1951, they welcomed their son, who they named Carl Dean, into the world.

Throughout his childhood, Carl was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised in the family home alongside his four younger siblings, Gwendolyn, Nancy, Rick, and Barry. The Wedge family resided mostly in Kalamazoo, though they did move around for William’s job. Early on, Carl did chores to help out on a chicken farm in Holland. He attended a one-room schoolhouse for a time. The family attended a church where Carl built the foundations of his faith. He enjoyed baseball and he was an active member of his school’s chess club. Carl also liked golf, and he began caddying at a local golf course to earn some money. He graduated from Loy Norrix High School, ready to move on to bigger and better things.

It wasn’t long before Carl felt the call to serve his country. Shortly after graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Carl would go on to spend four years in the Navy, serving primarily as a radio operator. He was stationed in Guam during the Vietnam War. Carl greatly enjoyed his time in the military, and he loved scuba diving in his down time. Throughout his service, he deepened his faith and truly claimed it as his own. Following his discharge from the Navy, Carl returned home.

Exciting changes were in store for Carl as he met the woman who would soon become the love of his life. Her name was Cynthia Persons, and the two actually first met as children when both attended Oakwood Jr. High School. They reconnected when Carl began attending the college group at Cynthia’s church. Their relationship flourished, and they began dating. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Carl and Cynthia were married on October 15, 1977, at Berean Baptist Church in Portage, Michigan. The newlyweds then enjoyed a honeymoon out East, visiting Niagara Falls and traveling all the way up to Maine. Carl and Cynthia settled down in Kalamazoo to step into their bright future as husband and wife.

All who knew Carl can certainly agree that, of all the things he loved in life, he cherished his family above all else. He and Cynthia were overjoyed to welcome their two beloved children, first Jonathan, and later, Sarah, into their hearts and home. Carl thrived in his role as a father, and he worked tirelessly to provide for his family. He enjoyed spending time with his children whenever he could, whether that meant teaching them chess, tossing around a baseball, or playing board games. Later in life, Carl was thrilled to become a grandfather. He adored his grandchildren and doted on them whenever he could, and he took great pride in being a funny, goofy grandfather. Carl considered himself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Carl was never afraid to work hard in order to provide for himself and those who depended on him. Carl and Cynthia moved to Grand Rapids so that Carl could attend Grand Rapids Baptist College and then Grand Rapids Community College to study computer design. His job took him all around the country, from the east coast to the west coast. He would often help in Sunday School, and he would sometimes run sound or serve as trustee and treasurer. He also enjoyed singing in the church choir, the men's quartet and occasional solos. Carl’s faith was his greatest treasure.

Carl would try his best to fix anything that was broken, but he knew his limits and would call a professional when he needed to. Once their kids were married, he and Cynthia began traveling even more. They would go to a job site and spend the weekends exploring the area. Carl loved investigating the history of each site. Later, Carl and Cynthia developed a keen interest in historical sites and explored many east coast locations as part of the tour group, Landmark. Landmark focused on learning the true Biblical Christian foundation of our great nation. The couple also facilitated the courses, "Constitution Alive" and "Biblical Citizenship" in their home and local churches.

Carl was active in the Kent County Republican Party and was recently elected as a precinct delegate.

When reflecting on the life of Carl Wedge, it is easy to see both his unwavering strength and his unconditional love for his family. He was a shining example of kindness and generosity, and he leaned on his faith in good times and bad. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Carl was a friend to many and beloved by all. He was the rock of his family, and his solid work ethic formed the foundation of all that he did. Though he will be deeply missed, Carl leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.

Carl D Wedge, age 73 of Grand Rapids, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 24, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cynthia; their children Jonathan (Shannon) Wedge, Sarah (Matthew) Gommesen; 13 grandchildren Ruthanna, Joshua, Sophia, Noah and Todd Wedge, Elisabeth, Levi, Carise, Judah, Mara, Ruby-Anne, Helen and Lydia Gommesen; his brothers and sisters: Gwendolyn (Gregory) Pearson, Nancy McBride, Rick (Debra) Wedge, Barry Wedge; brothers-in-law John (Lynnie) Persons, Carl Persons, Herb (Linda) Persons; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The service to remember and celebrate Carl’s life will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 11 AM at Belmont Baptist Church, 6446 Belmont Ave NE. Friends are invited to visit with his family on Friday from 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel and on Saturday at the church beginning at 10 AM. Interment in Fort Custer National Cemetery at a later date. To read more about Carl, to share a memory or to sign his guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com