Carl E. Neuswanger

age 70, of Poulsbo Washington and formerly of Bainbridge Island , passed away March 2nd, 2012 under Hospice care, surrounded by his beloved family.Carl was born in Pocatello Idaho on December 18, 1941, to Frank R. Neuswanger and Marguerite Root Neuswanger. Carl was a WWII war orphan, his father having been killed in action on Armistice Day, 1944, while a Captain under the command of General Patton.In 1948 Carl’s mother remarried a career soldier, Donald W. Holland. Carl was able to enjoy living in Germany, and later in Panama, after the war. His high school years were spent in prep schools: Taft School in Watertown Connecticut, and Fountain Valley in Colorado Springs, Colorado . He enjoyed playing soccer, and watched and waited for Peggy Flemming to get off the ice at the Broadmore Hotel before he could take to the ice to play hockey. He graduated in 1960 from Fountain Valley High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.In 1965 he graduated from a five-year program in architecture from the University of Idaho. It is here that he met the love of his life Sharon Lee Neal, marrying her after his second year of college.During his career he worked for private architects in Idaho Falls, Idaho and later became the chief architect for the Federal Housing Administration in Boise, Idaho. Carl went to work for the Seattle office of HUD in 1984, and retired after 31 years of service with the federal government.Carl was an avid hunter, fisherman, camper, boater, knot maker, car enthusiast, and pottery maker, and loved sculpting and painting art forms of every kind including totem poles and making models of ships. He enjoyed helping his friends and neighbors, and spending time with his family.Gardening was a great passion, and he often could be found before dinner in his garden sampling the fruits of his gardening labors; sometimes his sampling took the place of dinner altogether. Later on he would devote himself to raising flowers, especially dahlias.He was a member of the Elks, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Shilshole Bay Yacht Club, Eagle Harbor Yacht Club, Old Vintage Auto Club, National Corvette Restores Society, Marque Club of Seattle, and the Glass Odyssey Corvette Club.He his survived by his loving wife, Sharon of 49 years, and daughters Sabrina and Tara. He always said he was the luckiest man on earth as God gave him the perfect combination of a brunette (Sharon), a blonde (Sabrina) and a red head ( Tara ). He is also survived by his brothers R. Russell Neuswanger and Dee Holland, son- in- law Aaron Strom, three grandsons, Cruz, Max and Bodie, and nieces and nephews, Susan Taylor, Terry Holland, Heather Taylor Neuswanger, and Forrest Neuswanger.In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to Hospice Care Center in Bremerton, Washington.A memorial service will take place at Bainbridge Island First Baptist Church on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 1:00 pm.Please post any special memories you have of Carl to the online obituary site of Cook Family Funeral Home.