Carl S Glick Jr

1935 - 2025

Longtime Kenai resident, Carl S. Glick Jr. passed away peacefully with family by his side on September 7, 2025, at Central Peninsula Hospital. He was 17 days shy of his 90th birthday.
He was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, (the "heart" of Pennsylvania Dutch country) on September 24, 1935, to Reverend Carl S. Glick Sr. and Betty Salome (Enck) Glick Ohse.
Most of Carl's childhood was spent in Palmstown, PA, where his parents pastored a country church. As a young teenager, he worked in the fields and barns of neighboring farmers. He drove tractor. In the late 1940s, he witnessed firsthand the change in farming methods from using horses to integrating the use of mechanical equipment -an interesting time in history.
Carl started his school career in a one room schoolhouse but graduated from Carlisle High School in 1953. On September 4, 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jane Bailey- the start of a sixty-nine yearlong love affair.
Carl's lifelong passion for woodworking began in the high school vocational department. As part of the work study and after graduation until the end of 1955, he worked for Beetem's Lumber & Mfg. Company. He then went to work for Capitol Products Inc., an aluminum products manufacturer.
Meanwhile, Carl joined the Pennsylvania National Guard, serving from 1954 to 1959. He served first as a radio mechanic, then as an armored communication specialist in the Headquarters Company First Battalion 104th Armored Cavalry.
His early work history included floor manager in the lacing department at the Bedford Shoe Company, a division of G.R. Kinney Company; a summer building a natural gas pipeline; operating a gas station including designing and building the garage bays; and finally, as a long-haul trucker. Then, he heard the call to go "North to Alaska"
His parents were missionaries to Kenai for the Assemblies of God church. Carl was their only child. A continent separated them from their three young grandchildren. They assured Carl that there were plenty of job opportunities. The oil boom was in its infancy with the 1957 discovery of the Swanson River oil field. Carl Jr. and his wife agreed to come for a "year", 1962-2025 (63 years long).
Carl briefly worked for the local hardware store, Kenai Korners, until he was hired by Schlumberger for wireline services. Thus began a career in the oil field industry spanning more than 33 years. From 1963 until 1978, he worked at the Chevron USA refinery in Nikiski during the startup and was an Operational Leadman. From 1978 until 1995, he worked for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company as a Pump Station Supervisor. He also developed and instructed a 168 hour Topping Unit Operations Course. He developed and wrote a Technician Progression Manual.
In addition to building his own home in 1964, Carl had many side businesses throughout his life-working in the mortuary business digging graves and building plywood boxes to encase caskets; running his own C & B Cabinet and Mill Shop; working in the building trades for John Thornton and the Holts. He retired at 80.
His civic interests included: the City of Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission 1989-2005; president of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank 1993-1995; Kenai Peninsula School Board 1971- 1979; supporting vocational training for high school students; and more.
Carl spent time with the men's group at New Life Assembly of God - Bible study, whitewater rafting, snow machining, and on work crews to help the needy. Carl enjoyed moose hunting with his sons in the Caribou Hills and along the Nowitna River in the Interior. Riding his baby blue Gold Wing trike, he was a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. He treasured his FAMILY.
And his family treasured him. In 1974 a lymphoma cancer diagnosis, even treated with chemo and radiation, was most likely a death sentence. God healed him and gave him 50 more years to live a full life.
Carl was preceded in death by his son, Carl S. Glick III in 1960 and his wife, Betty in 2022. He is survived by his wife of exactly one year, Mary J. Adams; daughter, Elizabeth McDermid of Funny River; son, John (Barbara) of Wasilla; son, Bill (Becky) of Soldotna; 12 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren with one on the way.
A Celebration of Life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at New Life Assembly of God in Kenai. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carl's memory may be made to the Kenai Food Bank.