Carl Lee German, 71, of Wilmington, DE, formerly of Nokomis, died on Aug. 23, 2023, at Wilmington Hospital with his wife, Elly and his pastor by his side.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Immanuel Church, Wilmington. A lunch reception will immediately follow.
Mr. German was born on Dec. 19, 1951, in Pana, near his hometown of Nokomis. He spent his youth farming grain and livestock on the family farm with his sister, Debbie, brother, Kenny and his late parents, June and Kenneth.
After high school, Mr. German earned an sssociates degree from Montgomery County (Illinois) Community College and then bachelor's and master's degrees in Agricultural Industries and Business Management from Southern Illinois University.
Mr. German moved to Newark, DE in 1975 to take a job as a crops marketing specialist at the University of Delaware. He enjoyed a nearly four-decade career working with Delaware and DelMarVa farmers through the cooperative extension service at UD, the farm bureau and the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Some of Mr. German's best friends were colleagues from the university and farmers.
His hobbies included running, tennis, golf and most of all, gardening. Mr. German was a master gardener, excellent handyman and avid reader. He coached his boys’ youth soccer and baseball teams and volunteered with the Newark High School Sports Boosters for many years while Ryan, Micah and Peter played football at NHS.
After retiring in 2012, Mr. German took classes from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware. He mostly enrolled in art classes, enjoying painting and drawing. He also took Tai Chi and music courses, including drum circle.
Mr. German is survived by his wife, Elly; children, Ryan (Shannon), Micah (Sara) and Peter German; and their mother, his former spouse, Barbara Jo; grandchildren, Skye, Dylan, Braden, Isabel and Aubrey; sister, Debbie (Richard) of Wisconsin and brother, Kenny (Melba) of Illinois; nephews, Richard, Kenny, Jared, Justin and Johnny; and nieces, Katie and Sylvia; as well as many loving extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. German's name to Immanuel Church, 2414 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806.
Condolences may be left at www.dohertyfh.com.
