W. Carson Mettel

1926 - 2023

W. Carson Mettel

July 6, 1926 - Jan. 29, 2023

MADISON - W. Carson Mettel, age 96, of Madison, WI passed away on January 29, 2023, of natural causes at his home. He was born on July 6, 1926 in Sauk City, WI, to Walter Joseph Mettel and Edith Gertrude Morgan (Carson) Mettel.

Carson grew up in Sauk City where his father had a rural mail route for almost 50 years. Carson joined the U.S. Navy a week after his 18th birthday and was a member of the 134th Naval Construction Battalion serving in Guam as a Machinist Mate Second Class. During his time in Guam he earned his high school diploma. He returned to San Francisco as he had left, by traveling beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

After returning to Madison he worked for the U.S. Postal Service before joining the Madison Fire Department. He drove fire engines and put his encyclopedic memory of Madison streets to great use for over 32 years.

He married Evelyn Smith on September 30, 1951 in Madison. They took their honeymoon to New York City and saw the Brooklyn Dodgers play at Ebbets Field. Carson remained a lifelong Dodgers and baseball fan.

Carson was a voracious reader, had a fantastic memory, could do math faster than a calculator, loved Guinness Stout, and was always available to help family. He was so proud of each of his grandchildren and loved reading to them and watching them grow.

After retirement from the fire department he continued to drive trucks for Frito Lay and Bancroft Dairy where he accumulated more than half a million accident free miles to destinations including Mobile, AL, Newport News, VA, and Superior, WI.

Carson and Evelyn always loved to travel and made the most of their opportunities during retirement including trips around the U.S., Norway, England, Ireland, and Brazil to visit his brother Chuck. They made annual visits to Door County and spent many winters in Brownsville, TX. They especially enjoyed visiting Switzerland and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking their family on a memorable trip to see their favorite places there.

Carson is survived by two children: daughter Lori Ellen; and son, M. Carson (Lisa) Mettel; and his grandchildren: Senn (Hayley), Quinn, and Kaden Mettel. He is further survived by a devoted niece and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife; siblings: Mariellen and Chuck; and Lori's partner, Matthew Gray.

The family would like to extend special gratitude to Leoncia Balase (Pina) for the seven years of extraordinary and loving care that she provided to both Carson and Evelyn during the last years of their lives. We would also like to thank Dr. Claire Gervais for her exceptional efforts to ensure that our father was able to remain in his own home for 67 years.

A celebration of Carson's life will be held on Caldy Place from 4:00p.m.-5:30p.m. on April 29th. All are welcome.

Memorials are suggested to Madison Audubon or Wisconsin Public Television.

"Drive Carefully!"