Carl E. Powley, formerly of St. Joseph passed away on June 6 at his home in Highlandville, Missouri. Carl was born on May 27, 1930, in St. Louis to A. E. and Nora Powley. He lived in Chester, IL and attended St. John’s Lutheran School and graduated from Chester High School. After high school he attended St. John’s College in Winfield, KS and graduated from Concordia Teacher’s College, River Forest, IL in 1953.
Upon graduation he was hired by Trinity Lutheran Church and School, St. Joseph, MI, where he taught from 1953-69. He was also Athletic Director and head basketball coach. At the close of the 1969 school year Carl accepted a Fellowship at Western Michigan University and received a Masters in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 1971.
Carl was offered a job with the Berrien County Intermediate School District. He started a new grass roots program for severely impaired students. The program won honors in the state.
Carl was then offered a position on the staff for the Hearing Impaired Program. He gained certification in Deaf Ed. After teaching classes for a few years, an opportunity opened for him to use his audiology background. In addition to on-site responsibilities, he also traveled to Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo to test all the students from the Hearing Impaired Program.
In August of 1976, Carl suffered a severe heart attack. While recovering, he proposed to bring the entire audiology operation locally and showed the financial feasibility to school administration. Later, he set up the first sound suite housed in a public school Hearing Impaired Program and gained the American Speech and Hearing Association clinical certification.
While being first a teacher and then an audiologist, Carl won both a Michigan Teacher of the Year Award and the highest honors of the American Speech and Hearing Association for his contributions.
Carl married Joy Berk in 1960 and together they raised three children. Survivors include his wife, Joy, and children, Tamara (Gerry) Cox, Kimberly (Gary) Omlor, Tobin (Kellie) Powley and four grandchildren: Hunter, Tanner and Sailor Powley and Gerrett Cox. Carl was preceded in death by his father, mother and two brothers. Per Carl’s wishes there will be a private graveside service at Riverview Cemetery. Those wishing to sign Carl’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Carl lived out his faith in Jesus Christ and was a Christian witness to all who knew him. Carl loved children and dedicated his life to serve them. Memorials may be made to the Berrien Springs Hearing Impaired Program.
Posted On: Friday, June 17, 2022 9:55 AM
