Carl Joseph Vieira
December 2, 1917 – December 30, 2009
Carl Vieira passed away late Wednesday evening, December 30, 2009 at his home in Turlock after a brief illness.
Carl was born in Turlock, CA at the Vieira family home located on Monte Vista Avenue, one of 13 children of Jose and Anna Vieira. From the early age of seven Carl worked on the family dairy farm, including driving his father’s team of horses. Carl’s love for and skill at farming and equipment operation and repair began in these early days and continued throughout his life. Carl attended Turlock schools and graduated from Turlock High School. After high school, Carl farmed with his brother Joseph. It was during this time that Carl met the love of his life, Anne Pacheco, at a dance in Buhach, California.
In October 1941, like so many of his generation, Carl dutifully answered his country’s call to service. Carl elected to join the Army Air Corps where he served for four years. Carl initially was a mechanic instructor learning to fly on a B17. During the war, Carl was stationed as a Staff Sergeant in the Pacific Theater serving as a nose gunner on a B24.
Carl and Anne were married in September 1943. Following a brief honeymoon in Yosemite, Carl returned to service overseas. At the end of the war Carl returned home to Turlock in 1945 where he resumed farming and entered the dairy business. Shortly thereafter, Carl and Anne started a family and were ultimately blessed with five children. In 1962, Carl moved his family into the house that he and his brother Jeffrey built on Mitchell Road across from the dairy and that he would call home for the rest of his life. Later in life, Carl continued to work in his garden with great dedication, growing a variety of produce, especially focusing on his boysenberries and grapevines.
Carl and Anne enjoyed traveling, including trips to Hawaii, Washington, DC, and Europe. They also loved to venture out in their car together for one-day and short overnight trips, especially up to Lake Tahoe. Throughout their lives together they enjoyed attending Portuguese Festas. Carl was always quick to lend a hand to family and friends, especially using his mechanical skill to help with making repairs and designing better methods of getting things done. He loved figuring out how things worked, making them work better and above all helping others.
Carl was a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he was baptized and married. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a strong supporter of Sacred Heart Catholic School. Carl had a strong work ethic, a profound love for his country, and a quiet but very funny sense of humor. He was respected and dearly loved by his friends and family.
Carl is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Anne, his son Mark Vieira and his wife Judy, his son Carl Vieira and his wife Laurie of Turlock, his daughter Jean Obad and her husband Steve of Merced, his daughter Eileen Melson of Modesto and his son-in-law Denis Ducey of San Leandro. Carl was predeceased by his daughter Marnelle Vieira-Ducey. He is also survived by his sister Genevieve Novo and sister-in-law Elaine Vieira both of Turlock and his brother Richard Vieira and his wife Betty of Ballico as well as 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The Vieira family wishes to thank Carl’s longtime physician Puliadi Kumar, MD and his staff for their professional support and excellent care. The family also wants to sincerely thank Charlotte Paes and Lenore Stuckey and his other caregivers for their excellent care for and love of Carl.
A celebration of Carl’s life will take place with a Vigil Service at 7 pm on Tuesday, January 5th at Allen’s Mortuary, 247 N. Broadway, Turlock, with a viewing between 4 pm and 7 pm that day. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am, Wednesday, January 6th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 1301 Cooper Avenue in Turlock. All family and friends are invited to attend.
Remembrances may be made to Hospice of Emmanuel, 825 Delbon Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380 or Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
