Obituary of Carl V. Caleb, Jr.

Carl V. Caleb, Jr., 74, of the Town of Shelby, entered into rest on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at the Strong Memorial Hospital following a lengthy battle with complications from cancer.

Carl, born August 11, 1946, in Medina, was the eldest of three siblings whose parents were the late Victor C. and Shirley (Cook) Caleb. He graduated from Medina High School in the class of 1964.

After graduation, Carl worked briefly for DynaLab Corporation in Rochester, before being drafted into the United States Army.  He served in active duty in South Korea as an MP from 1966-1968 and continued in the Army Reserve until 1970.

On August 20, 1976, Carl married the love of his life, the former Patricia Brennan, daughter of the late John and Josephine Brennan, and began a lifelong, joyful journey with Patricia and her two sons, Sean and Mike.  Carl enjoyed spending time with his stepsons including a passion for baseball beginning as their coach in Medina Little League and continuing with their shared love for the New York Yankees.  Carl will also be remembered for being one of the favorite umpires in Medina Little League.  Carl’s impact extended well beyond Sean and Mike, as their close friends also share many vivid and fond memories of their time with Carl over the years.  In later years, Carl became “Grandpa Bear” and loved being with his three grandchildren (Christie, Josie, and Caleb) while in California or as they visited him in Medina.

Carl worked for many years for the Town of Shelby Highway Department starting in 1968 and was eventually elected as Highway Superintendent in 1983, and reelected 5 times (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003), serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2005.

Carl experienced a life-defining event in 1979, when his right arm was paralyzed in a snowmobile accident.  After a difficult recovery, Carl returned to work with heavy equipment and performed other acts that amazed family, friends, and co-workers.  A familiar refrain was “how could Carl have done that with one arm when I couldn’t do it with two?”

Carl was an avid lover of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, four-wheeling and open spaces. He was well known by one and all for his quick-witted input to any conversation.  A favorite among the highway superintendents was the notorious “Pole tax” story involving a rookie superintendent Roger Wolfe.  Carl was a member of Lincoln Post #1483 VFW, Butts-Clark Post #204 American Legion, and the Junior Wilson Sportsman’s Club.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Patricia B. Caleb of Shelby; his stepsons, Sean Carey and Michael Carey both of California; three grandchildren, Christie, Josephine, and Caleb Carey; sister, Lynne Fisher; sisters-in-law, Eileen (late John) McElwain and Mary (Paul) Woodruff; several treasured aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family; and many dear close friends. Besides his parents, Carl was predeceased by his brother, Brent (late Rose) Caleb.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Sunday, July 25^th at 10:00 a.m. in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in West Shelby. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Richard Knights / Sue Kaderli Memorial Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 684; Medina, New York 14103 http://knightskaderli.blogspot.com/p/donate.html or: The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company Inc., P.O. Box 1, Medina NY, 14103. Arrangements are in the care of Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina.