Obituary of Carl William Kullberg

Carl William “Bill” Kullberg was born June 1, 1930 in Astoria, Oregon, to Regner and Vendela Kullberg. He passed away in Olympia, Washington, surrounded by loving family on November 24, 2019.

Bill earned his business degree with a minor in art from Pacific Lutheran College in 1953. While at college, he met Pat and they married on June 7, 1953. They made their home in Colton, Oregon, where they raised their four children. Bill operated K M Farm Machinery for many years in Meadowbrook as an Allis-Chalmers dealer. He continued his business as Foothills Machinery and Supply in Colton, selling farm equipment and implements. Cattle, haying, trucking and a pole mill were among Bill’s other ventures during his machinery dealer days.

Colton Lutheran Church was a big part of Bill’s and Pat’s lives over the years in Colton, where he served on Council and is remembered for ringing the church bell to begin Sunday morning services. Bill and Pat moved to Rochester, Washington, in 1993 to be closer to family, who were very important to them. He loved his family very, very much. This love is evident in memories his grandchildren have of time with Grandpa Bill: root beer floats, spritz cookies, Lutefisk, blueberry pancakes, his very strong grip and exclamation of “daggnabbit,” the smell of oil on his clothes from working in the shop—“Gandpa’s Fix-It Shop,” playing tug-o-war, talking cars, trucks, tools and tractors and learning from him, snoozing and snoring on the couch, helping with garage sales, talking with us about our schooling, work and careers, his doting on Grandma, and being  there for his family with whatever they needed and whatever he could give.

Dad was always a very positive person and made the best of whatever life gave him. A note he wrote on a hotel notepad sums this up: “Things turn out best for those people who make the best of the way things turn out.” 

Bill is survived by his daughter, Lois, and son-in-law, Greg; son, Roger, and daughter-in-law, Sharon; daughter, Leigh Ann, and son-in-law, Paul; daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, Matt; grandchildren, Katie, Kevin, Kael, Kienan, Amy, Matt, Christy, Emma and Hannah; great-grandchildren, Evey, Brooklyn, Hailey and Daxton; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dick and Deanna. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, with whom he shared his life over 65 years of marriage; his parents; and his great-granddaughter, Kaelyn.

A graveside service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at Colton Lutheran Cemetery, Colton, Oregon at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020. All are welcome. Interment will be at Colton Lutheran Cemetery. Please gather at Goat Mountain Public House following the service. All are welcome.