Carl Benjamin (Ben) Oxley passed away peacefully June 3, 2022 at the age of 94, in his hometown of Cheboygan, surrounded by his family.
Carl was born April 25, 1928 in Cheboygan, the son of Benjamin and Helen (Manuel) Oxley. He attended school in Cheboygan and graduated from Cheboygan High School. Carl was about 7 years old when he began his working career by peddling milk for Inverness Dairy. For this, he was paid 10 cents a week and all of the milk and butter the family could use. At the time, during the depression, this was more than his father was making! At 14, Carl began driving truck for Short Freight lines.
After high school, Carl served his country in the United States Army/Air Force. While in the service, he was trained as a teletype operator. Carl was an accomplished typist and would sometimes input more than 60 words per minute, jamming the machine (by accident of course). This would require a specialist to be sent out to repair the machine and could take up to three days. The Army/Air Force decided to train Carl to make these repairs himself. Surprisingly, after this training, the machines didn’t jam as often. Also, while in the service he captured a Kodiak bear cub which was sent to the Detroit Zoo. For years, our family would travel to the zoo to see “dads bear”.
After his discharge, he returned to Cheboygan and worked at a number of different jobs including being a projectionist at theatres in both Petoskey and Cheboygan. He also worked for his father who owned Straits Electric Shop, delivering and repairing appliances. He also learned to be an electrician, and on February 14, 1958, Carl and Straits Electric Shop became the 231th licensed electrical contractor in the State of Michigan. Carl was also a deputy sheriff for Cheboygan County and a member of the State of Michigan Electrical Administrative Board. At 94 years old, Carl still carried his valid State of Michigan Master Electrician License with him.
On June 26th, 1950, Carl married Veronica Donnelly in Petoskey, Michigan. Carl and Vernie had 6 children: Carla Sare, Carl Oxley II, Charles (Jeanne) Oxley, Calvin (Gina) Oxley, Carol (Richard) Krumreig, and Helen (Mark) Downie, all of whom survive.
On November 28th, 1992, Carl married Norma Reed. Carl “retired” from Straits Electric Inc. shortly after, and Carl and Norma began spending their winters in Straits Electric’s “Southwestern office” in Arizona. Carl and Norma spent nearly 29 winters there before returning to spend the winter in Cheboygan in 2021 due to health concerns. Even in early 2022, Carl could be found in his office at home stripping wire for the business.
Carl was a long time member of St. James Episcopal Church in Cheboygan and also a member of St. Peter Episcopal Church of Litchfield Park, AZ.
Besides his children, Carl is survived by his spouse of 29 years, Norma; his sister Joan (Owen) Smith, his brother-in-law Mike Shields, and sister-in-law Leah (John) Herzog.
He is also survived by his step-children Wynn (Cathy) Krzyske, Nyle (Robert) Potthast and Kent Krzyske; his grandchildren Carl (Megan) Oxley III, Erin (Tracy) Rogers, Derrick (Tami) Oxley, Kate Krumreig, Jamie Evans, Erin (Amanda) Evans, Stacy Oxley, Richard (Melinda) Krumreig, Tori (Adam) Otstot, Megan (Richie) Meyers, Benjamin Krumreig, Madeline Downie, Markus Downie, Andrew Krzyske, Kyle (Natasha) Krzyske, Nicole (Chase) Colley, Dan (Katie) Krzyske, Christopher (Kali) Barnaby, Carla(David) Golden, Kent (Hannah) Krzyske, Amanda (Seth) Yoder, and Spencer Potthast. Also surviving are his great-grandchildren Adelaide, Andrew, Cassidy, Cooper, Cora, Davis, Dean, Emberlynn, Jaeleigh, Jaxon, Jenson, Keegan, Kembry, Kent, Logan, Paul, Ricky, Sammy, Sara, and Sawyer. Also many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife Veronica (Vernie) (Donnelly) Oxley, his parents Benjamin and Helen (Manuel) Oxley, his sister Helen and brother-in-law Jack Herbert, his sister Dorothy, his son-in-law Don Sare, and his step-daughter-in-law Pam Krzyske.
Carl cherished his family. He made sure they always had what they needed, he did what he said he was going to do, he was always at the dinner table and he never missed a game. With his children, he was not one to praise or show big expressions of love, but he showed his pride by making sure to mention their latest accomplishments to anyone who would listen while picking up supplies at All-Phase, at church, or while having coffee at Kretchman’s. As he aged, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought out a softer side of Carl. He delighted in sitting in his chair with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren on his lap, sometimes struggling to keep them from trying to steal the toothpick from his mouth. He was generous with hugs, “I love yous” and praise for soccer goals saved, runs scored, art prizes awarded, and singing competitions won.
While Carl will be remembered for many things he has said over the years, as he got older, and was asked “How ya doing Carl?”, he would respond “Better than most!” Our family believes now that Carl is in heaven, awaiting his next service call, he is still “Better than most,” enjoying endless supplies of toothpicks, game shows, sports channels and cowboy hats.
Plans for a Celebration of life memorial service for Carl are pending at this time.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. James Episcopal Church or Hospice House.
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