Carl Edward Ummach

LAWTON, N.D. -- Carl Edward Ummach IV, 87, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Lawton, N.D., died Sept. 3, 2007, at Home Sweet Home in Mesa.

A private family memorial service was held 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City, with the Rev. Ed Frank officiating. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery, Sioux City.

Carl E. Ummach IV was born Oct. 8, 1919, at Oak Park, Ill., to Carl E. III and Jennie (Mitchell) Ummach. He was reared and educated in Illinois and California. Carl excelled in sports, especially track (high jump and pole vault) and football (semi-pro). He graduated from Austin High School in Chicago, Ill., in 1937. He served with the U.S. Army in World War II from April 1942 to November 1945, stationed in North Africa and France. He achieved the Army divisional middle-weight boxing championship. After his honorable discharge, Carl became co-owner of Culligan Soft Water Service with his brother-in-law, James Lipton in Ida Grove, Iowa.

On June 25, 1946, Carl was united in marriage to Arleen Lewis in Sioux City. One son was born to this union, Carl Edward Ummach V. In 1951, the family moved to Las Vegas, Nev. Carl and Arleen later divorced.

In 1954, Carl worked in Ship Rock, N.M., in the uranium mines. In 1956, he then moved to Santa Monica, Calif., and worked for Allied Swimming Pool Service & Repair. In 1966, Carl was employed by ITT, working in Greenland and Alaska on the Dew Line and B-Mews (early warning missle systems). In 1972, he transferred to the Par Site in Concrete, N.D., with the anti-ballistic missile system.

On May 29, 1976, Carl was united in marriage to Beverly Charon-Craik at Cavalier, N.D. In 1979, he returned to Greenland and Alaska, retiring in 1981. Carl and Beverly lived on a farm near Lawton, N.D., until 2001, when they moved to the Fargo, N.D., area. From 1989 to the present, they spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz.

Carl was a life member of VFW Post 8939 of Edmore, N.D., a member of the Devils Lake, N.D., Elks Lodge, Devils Lake Lodge, 21 AF&AM, Langdon, N.D., Scottish Rite and 49ER-S Shrine Club, Model T Unit, Kem Shriners, Grand Forks, N.D., and Lawton Senior Citizens. Carl enjoyed traveling, fishing, dancing and playing tennis, ping pong and cards with his family and friends. His family and friends will greatly miss his living presence, generosity and kindness.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Beverly; a son, Carl E. V (Arlene) Ummach of Sioux City; grandchildren, Carl E. VI (Jamie) Ummach, Todd (Kim) Ummach, Stacia (Troy) Stauter, Penny McKnight and Michael (Tina) Miller; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Charles, Sarah, McKenzie and Mya Ummach, Regan Vermeys, Alyssa, Hunter and Michael McKnight; stepchildren, Michael (Shari), Douglas (Gayle) and James Craik, Sharon Steen and Carla (Tim) Deraney; 15 stepgrandchildren; five great-stepgrandchildren; sisters-in-law, Shirley Grohs and Debra Idland; and mother-in-law, Eva Charon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Jane and James Lipton of Ida Grove; a great-grandson, Tyler Ummach; and his father-in-law, Arthur Charon.

Honorary pallbearers were Carl E. Ummach VI, Todd Ummach, Stacia Stauter, Penny McKnight, Michael Miller, Michael Craik, Douglas Craik, James Craik, Sharon Steen, Carla Deraney, Robert Schledorn and Roger Burt.