Carl Edward Aaberg

Hillcrest/Bruce Lee Memorial Center

Carl Edward Aaberg lived a full and joyful life. He was a kind and generous optimist with an inspiring work ethic. Born in Tacoma, WA, on October 13, 1916, he was the only child of Edward James Aaberg and Rose Emma (Roth) Aaberg. During the Great Depression, the family moved to Bremerton, where he lived until early 2007.

Carl attended schools in Bremerton and graduated from Bremerton High School in 1934. He then pursued his interest in woodworking as an apprentice cabinetmaker. In the early 1940s, Carl used these skills when he worked nights at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard while attending the University of Washington during the day.

At the onset of World War II, Carl volunteered for the Merchant Marine, towing supplies to troops in the Pacific; he began as crew and worked his way up to skipper. Early in the war, Carl was part of a tugboat crew made up of all inland boatmen; they learned celestial navigation from a book after leaving port on their way to Hawaii during a period of radio silence. He remained in contact with his Merchant Marine friends, attending an annual reunion picnic in Seattle.

He was introduced to the love of his life, Hazel Anita King, in 1949 on the tugboat LT 394, when he was First Mate. Carl and Hazel were married on August 19, 1950. They had three children, Christopher, Rosanne, and David. Carl was an attentive, loving husband and a dedicated, supportive, yet non-interfering father.

In the late 1950s, Carl went into business, opening Aaberg & Feek Auto Parts with his friend and high school classmate, Dick Feek. He had purchased rental properties with his father during the Second World War and continued to invest in real estate throughout his life. Carl spent much of his time managing and maintaining his properties until he was in his late 80s.

In 1969, Carl and Hazel built their dream home on Oyster Bay, near their friends Roger and Ethyl DeClements and Dick and Gladys Feek. Carl always loved the Puget Sound and piloting power boats. In 1970 and again in 1971, Carl's calculating and piloting skill was instrumental in the victory of the Aaberg & Feek boat, the Escape, in the Bremerton Yacht Club Heavy Weather predicted log race. He maintained his Master Mariner license into the 1970s.

Carl belonged to the Freemasons, the Elks Lodge, and Kiwanis. He participated in many service projects; he chaired the Bennett Memorial Scholarship program, regularly volunteered at the Kiwanis Air Fair and donated his carpentry expertise for Christmas in April. In recognition of his contributions, Carl was presented with the Bremerton Kiwanis Club Dan G. Bisson Service Award, Man of the Year, for 1985-86.

Carl and Hazel traveled extensively from the 1970s through the 1990s. They visited their friends Tom and Iris Goddard in Saudi Arabia; went on safaris in Africa; saw the 1980 total eclipse of the sun from Kenya; took cruises on the Nile, the Amazon, and Yangtze Rivers; climbed Ayres Rock and saw Halley's Comet from Australia in 1986; walked on the Great Wall of China; explored ancient ruins in Mexico, Central America, and South America; toured Thailand, Indonesia and India; and visited many European counties.

Between 1995 and 2006, Carl and Hazel treated the entire Aaberg family to Christmas break vacations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. These annual trips helped the family to remain close, despite living in three different states. In Mexico, Carl spent time relaxing on the beach and seeing the sights with his grandchildren, Steven Aaberg, Elizabeth Aaberg, Libby Heeb, Mara Heeb, Rebecca Aaberg, and Carl Aaberg II. They remember their grandpa as playful, always humming and singing as he went about various projects around the house, always keeping busy.

Carl outlived many of his friends in Bremerton. In February of 2007, Carl and Hazel moved to Richland, WA, to be closer to family. Carl died peacefully on the morning of Sunday, August 12. He is greatly missed by his family and all those lucky enough to have known him. Condolences may be sent in care of Hillcrest Bruce Lee Memorial Center, 2804 West Lewis Street, Pasco, WA 99301.

The family invites you to sign their online guest book at www.hillcrestmemorialcenter.com.