Carl W. Seebald

As a child of God and a man of faith, Carl W. Seebald made the most of every day as a faithful servant of God and as a loving husband and father. He started each and every day with prayer and always ended his devotions by playing hymns. He never forgot to reflect back on the days he had, especially birthdays and special events. Christmas Eve was always such a special time at his home, when he could celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with family gathered around. And as they played their instruments, he played the piano and sang Christmas Carols. Carl's two greatest joys in life were being able to share his testimony with others and the moments he had with his family. During the early part of the 19th century so many German immigrants poured into the city of Chicago, Illinois that by 1900, nearly a quarter of the city's residents were either from Germany or of German descent. One such resident, coming from Bavaria in the southernmost part of Germany, was John Seebald, who in addition to being a shoemaker by trade, made his living in Chicago as a caretaker for several buildings on the city's north side. While attending church one Sunday, John met Carrie Jaekish, a native Chicagoan, and soon the two were married. Eager to start a family, the couple took up residence in the German part of Chicago and on January 27, 1911 welcomed a son whom they named Carl. It is not uncommon for little boys to be mischievous and Carl and his brother Harry were no exception. Although they had plenty of activities like scouting to keep them occupied, they still found time to get into trouble. As a young boy, faith played an important role in Carl's life. He not only attended both Sunday school and church, but he also played the piano for both. Carl started taking piano lessons at the age of seven and played for the church for over twenty years. He was always close with his family, particularly his aunt, and his church family. He enjoyed playing football and baseball with his Sunday School buddies and both he and Harry liked going to church camp every summer in Berger, IL. Early on in his education Carl attended military school, but eventually went to McPherson Elementary and later Senn High School, which he graduated from in 1929. Just out of high school, Carl struck up a pen pal relationship with a young lady named Jennie Jansen from Muskegon, Michigan. One of his friends had given him her address. He wrote...and Jennie wrote back! Several letters later Carl hopped in his 1929 Ford and headed to Muskegon. It was love at first sight for Carl and Jennie and, just three short years after their first meeting, they were married on September 30, 1933. The couple both loved and respected one another and shared a mutual love and devotion for the Lord. While Carl was attending the College of Naprapathy in his hometown, he and Jennie made Chicago their home. During this time Carl accompanied the Paul Rader Gospel Quartet on piano at the Gospel Tabernacle in Chicago and on radio station WGN. While on a canoe trip, he played such beautiful music on an old honky-tonk piano that the owner of the restaurant gave the entire group a free supper. Carl graduated from college in 1939, which was the same year that he and Jennie became involved with the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement. In 1940, Carl and Jennie moved to Muskegon and purchased their first home on Wood Street. They lived only one block away from Jennie's parents, but being close did not make it any easier when her mother passed away just a few months later. Being the proud owner of a home, Carl was always thinking up ways he could remodel or "make it better" as he liked to say. One of the best improvements was the screened in front porch where the couple and their four children, Charles, William (Bill), Carlla, and Virginia, could sit and talk on summer evenings. From 1941 to 1949, they had an additional family member, a scotch collie named Sandy. She was a constant companion to both Charles and Virginia, to whom no other dog that came after could ever compare. Carl and his first wife, Jennie (who was the mother of all his children) instilled reverence for God in their children as well as respect for all God's creatures. Through both their actions and words they taught them just as the Bible says to love the Lord their God with all of their heart and with all of their strength. For years daily worship always followed supper, whether in their home on Wood Street or the home they moved to on Weber Road, in Whitehall, after their tag-a-long son, David, was born in 1950. After their daily devotional readings, Carl would play the day's hymn and sing melody, while Jennie took the alto part and the children sang along. Carl passed on his love and talent for music to his children, Carlla played the piano, Virginia the piano, accordion, and flute, Charles the coronet, and David the trombone. Apart from shear talent, it didn't hurt that their father was the owner of Harmony Lane Music Center, the former Hager's School of Music. Under his management, Harmony Lane hosted annual picnics and recitals. Carl also paid special visits to school band directors, urging young people to take up an instrument and join band. He enjoyed his work there so much that he operated Harmony Lane for twenty-five years until 1970, when he closed shop and went to work full time as a traveling Pastor for Laymen's Home Missionary Movement. As a traveling Pastor, Carl spent at least six months out of the year on the road visiting groups and individuals in need of fellowship. In the early years, Jennie accompanied him, keeping records and appointments, until she passed away in 1982. When Carl married Julia Glover Lounsbury in October of 1983, she also traveled with him fulfilling that same role. Over the years he spoke in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, France, England, Denmark, and Poland. He spoke in Poland many times, often to crowds of more than 1,000 Christians gathered at just about any location that could accommodate them. It was truly his greatest joy to share the Word of God and speak personally to others of God's goodness. He loved the brethren and the brethren loved him. For years, Carl traveled the globe both professionally and personally, visiting places like Israel, Iraq, and Egypt. Not only had he seen all fifty states, but also the Great pyramid of Giza, the old land of Ur where Abraham lived, and the landmarks where Jesus walked. His final ministry trip was to Florida in March of 2001, the year that his second wife Julia passed away. In the last five years of his life Carl spent time enjoying his family, which now included grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Anytime that the brethren were gathered in his home or his family was gathered anywhere, it was a great day for Carl. He was married to Mary Fosdick Jolly on December 15, 2001. On May 21st of this year he played "Jesus Loves Me" for his great-granddaughter, Jansen, creating yet another special memory for his family. On the Sunday morning before he died, Carl was able to attend two bible studies and give both the opening and closing prayers. His greatest joy in life was to serve the Lord. Now he has fallen asleep in Jesus and waits for the resurrection morning when he will rejoice to serve his Lord once more. "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return" Isa. 35:10 Mr. Carl W. Seebald, age 95, died Thursday, June 8, 2006. Surviving are three sons, Charles A. (Judy) Seebald of Austin, TX, David J.(Paula) Seebald of Whitehall, MI and William J. Seebald of Philadelphia, PA; two daughters, Carlla J. Olson and Virginia J. Archer both of Whitehall; 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Carl was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, Jennie(Jansen) Seebald and Julia (Glover) Seebald; brother, Harry Seebald and son-in-law Mason Archer. A service will be held on Monday, June 12, 2006, 10:00 AM at Clock Funeral Home with Pastor Leon Snyder officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held on Sunday, 1-3 & 7-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Laymen's Home Missionary Movement. Please visit Carl's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign the online guest book or share a favorite memory.