Rev. Calvin William Carey, "Bill", 89, of Eau Claire, passed away at Grace Edgewood Memory Care in Altoona on Friday, April 8, 2016. He was born November 29, 1926, to Calvin Sr. and Grace (Estabrook) Carey in Staples, MN. He spent his youth in the Ozarks of Missouri and the Rocky Mountains in Idaho. After serving with the Army in the Occupation Forces in Germany during WWII, Bill returned home to Idaho. On June 17, 1950, Bill married Ann Brzezinski in Evanston, IL. After Bill accepted the Lord, he felt called by the Lord to become a minister. He attended Garret Seminary in Evanston IL, Vennard Bible College in University Park Iowa, and West Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant Michigan. Bill became a United Methodist Minister serving churches in Western Michigan for 11 years from 1954 - 1965 and then Western Wisconsin from 1965 – 1993 (Merrillan, Alma Center, Hixton, Jim Falls, Chili), with an additional four years as Visitation Pastor at Chapel Heights Methodist Church in Eau Claire after his retirement. He was passionate about the jail ministry at Black River Falls prison and Eau Claire Jail. Through the years, Bill led many Bible Study groups and took groups of people to the Holy Land. As an avid musician he recorded 2 cds in his son Bryan's studio, "Man of Galilee" and "Hallelujah Morning," and played his guitar often. Additionally, Bill loved to fish, cross country ski with his wife Ann, lift weights, ride bicycle, write poetry, and watch the garden grow after Ann planted it. He loved the Rocky Mountains where he lived in his teenage years, but most importantly he loved Jesus and took every opportunity to share that love with others. He is survived by his wife Ann of 65 years; children Keith (Susan) Carey of Eau Claire, Sharon (Robert) Rohland of Stanley, Mark (Kathy) Carey of Minneapolis and Bryan (Amy) Carey of Wichita; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Betty McKenna and Maxine Beal; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Grace Carey; 2 sisters, Florence Achenbach and Patty Pumphrey; 2 sisters-in-law, Sonia Risberg and Irene Brinza; and 4 brothers-in-law, Chester, Stanley, Walter and Steve Brzezinski. The family would like to thank the staff at Grace Edgewood Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice. Funeral Services will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at the Eau Claire Wesleyan Church, 2405 Keith St. in Eau Claire with Pastor Dennis Pond officiating. Visitation will be 2 hours prior to the service on Thursday, at the church. Burial will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire.

Service Information

Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery 1500 Buffington Drive Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Thursday, April 14 2016 11:00 AM

Eau Claire Wesleyan Church 2405 Keith Street Eau Claire WI

Funeral Service

Thursday, April 14 2016 1:00 PM

Eau Claire Wesleyan Church 2405 Keith Street Eau Claire WI