Carl Wyckoff

Carl Dennis Wyckoff, 89, of Independence died Tuesday, July 30th at his home. Cremation has taken place with Potts Chapel of Independence. Services will be held at a later date. The Family has suggested memorials to the local VFW Post 1186 for the building renovation. Memorials can be left with Potts Chapel. Carl Dennis Wyckoff was born in Independence, Kansas on February 2, 1924 to Ethel Nangle and Robert Wyckoff. He was the youngest of six siblings and his home never lacked for excitement. He shared many stories of sibling rivalry and grand times spent with his brother John who was closest to him in age. He loved to talk of times spent with his mother and their shared love of sauerkraut and homemade cottage cheese. He joined his father as a young teen working in the oil field with the Wyckoff Drilling Company, eventually taking over the company after his father passed. Early in his career he traveled as far as Colorado to drill water wells for a small community that would grow to be the Colorado Springs we know today. Many days and nights were spent working in the Osage. He was rightly proud of his skill in the field and being honest and doing the job right. Carl proudly served in the Navy during WWII on repair ships. He learned wood working skills when he was assigned ships company carpenter. He was proud of his crews work helping rebuilding stores in the cities following the war. Carl married Betty Wilson at a young age, but she preceded him in death. He found love again and married Frances Lang. Together they raised four children, James and John Wyckoff, Janet Wyckoff Dixon and Lisa Wyckoff Hinkle. He was a father who commanded respect and proper behavior with a look. But he was also appreciated for his sense of humor and instilled in his children a desire to stand on their own two feet and do well. Carl was ever proud of his grandchildren, Holly Ann, Kelly Diane, Christopher Carl, Gregory Eugene, Hilary and Reven, as well as his nieces and nephews. Preceding Carl in death besides his first wife, Betty, are his parents, Ethel and Robert, and his siblings, Robert, Howard, Merritt and John Wyckoff, Eloise Wyckoff Stukenburg, Ruth Wyckoff Richison and his daughter Janet Wyckoff Dixon. His wife, Frances Lang Wyckoff, survives at the home. He loved taking long drives each evening with his wife, playing golf, traveling west and kept his wife happy taking many trips to Branson to see the shows. He liked cottage cheese, custard and mince meat pie, laughing, classic country music, fedoras, swimming, casinos, reading, holding hands and Golden Corral. He was ever proud of making surprise muffins once and bragging about it for years. Also proud he survived snow so deep when he was a kid, he had to roll his homework papers up to make a funnel to breathe thru as he walked miles to and from school. He will be missed, loved, and remembered always. The family wishes to thank his caring sitters, Dr. Gary Dykstra, Dr. Ajit Lale, Mercy Home Health and Hospice, and Mercy Hospital 2nd floor staff for taking such good care of us, especially during these past 7 months.