Obituary of Carl L. Westergard

On the evening of Sunday, November 29th, 2015, Carl passed away at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, with his loved ones by his bedside. Carl was 77 years old. Carl was born in Wayne County, Michigan on May 22nd, 1938, to Anne David and Rudolph Westergard. At one year of age, Carl's mother died from tuberculosis, after which he lived with nearby relatives; later in life he would recall fondly how these family members treated him as one of their own, and they remained close throughout the years. When Carl was still a child, his father remarried to Dorothy Kenney, giving birth to his sister Judy. Carl served in the US Army and graduated from Lawrence Technological University. Carl married Wanda Wadkins in 1985, residing in Brentwood, Tennessee. He worked for Nissan in Smyrna where he made many friends that would remain close his entire life. Upon his retirement, he and Wanda moved to Crossville, Tennessee where they lived for several years, before moving to Talladega, Alabama. Carl was the happiest when spending time with his children and grandchildren, throwing a stick with his beloved Duke, or behind the helm of a sailboat in the Bahamas. If you're looking for Carl's enemy, you will find none. Carl loved befriending others, and was known to all as a kind and gregarious man. Some of his favorite pastimes included woodworking, ballroom dancing, helping those in need, shooting his gun at the Crossville Gun Club, and listening to music such as his church choir, the Gaither Brothers, jazz, and Frank Sinatra. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Wanda Westergard, his son Matt and his wife Sarah, his daughter Susan Cole and her partner Kathy Quimby, his son Chuck Wadkins and his wife Laurie, his sister Judy Oldenberg, his grandchildren Lexi, Hannah, Madelyn, Zach, Josh, Shelby, and his two great-grandsons Oliver and Braxton. A Celebration of Life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 400 East Street South, Talladega, Alabama, on Saturday December 5th, at 10:30am, with visitation immediately following in parlor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the FUMC Chancel Choir to be used for the Red Door Kitchen, The Samaritan House, and other charities important to Carl. Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega will direct.