Carl Morris Marler

Carl Morris Marler, 91, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on June 28, 2023. He was born on July 12, 1931, in Pocatello, the son of Morris and Margaret Marler. Carl is survived by his beloved wife, Bertha, and their children and their spouses: Carla and Mark Thomas, Cheryl and Mike Zaremba, Scott and Laural Marler, Bart and Jayne Marler, and Brad and Shaina Marler. Three foster children Glenise Bears Tail, Peter Flyinghorse and Albert Brave. He is also survived by his brothers, Frank Marler and Richard Marler. Carl leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories in the hearts of his 24 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. He was preceeded in death by his parents: Morris and Margaret Marler, brothers: Marvin Marler, Norman Marler, and 1 great grandson.

Carl married Bertha Mecham in the Idaho Falls temple on May 14, 1954. He always said it started with a root beer. That was their first date. They have been married 69 wonderful years.

They had 5 children. He was a devoted husband and father. Carl loved to spend time with his family. The family spent time together camping, sporting events, boating, skiing, and many other activities. He would have the family meet him with the boat at the lake after work so they could have a fun family evening. As his family grew, he would visit their homes to play and help with projects around the home. He always left things better than he found them. When he retired, he built a family cabin at Bear Lake. His family has spent many great times together at the cabin. It became a Legacy of love with many happy experiences for the whole family.

Education was always important to Carl. He graduated from Pocatello High School followed by graduating from Idaho State College, where he earned a degree in Physics. He also completed training at Naval Nuclear Power School in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Throughout his life, Carl remained an ardent supporter of both ISU and Poky High. Carl was a true jack-of-all-trades. He believed that with time and a good manual, he could learn to do anything. His repertoire included automobile engine and body repair, home construction, and playing, coaching, and refereeing various sports such as basketball and baseball. He also loved snow and water skiing, and sailing. He shared his love and knowledge with his wife and children.

Carl worked for many years at the Nuclear Reactor Facility. He began his career at the A1W Test Group working on the A1W Prototype for the Enterprise, the first nuclear powered air craft carrier. He wrote test procedures, completed testing, and then sent the results to Admiral Rickover’s group in Washington D.C. Later, he became an instructor in the field of Nuclear Power. Carl’s work provided opportunities including designing new test equipment and writing new test procedures, computer programs, and textbooks. He was one of the few people in the world to be inside a reactor compartment with the reactor critical.

A proud veteran, Carl served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and continued his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve for over 20 years, retiring at the rank of Captain. He formed a Naval Reserve Unit to analyze foreign navy nuclear power capabilities and led it as Commanding Officer. Carl’s dedication and commitment to his country were unwavering.

Active in his faith, Carl was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served diligently in various callings, including Bishop. No matter what the task, he was all in. He loved the opportunity to serve and to form relationships with the people around him. He taught himself Spanish with the hopes of going on a mission. He fulfilled his dream and was able to go on two missions with his wife to the Canary Islands.

Carl’s life will be celebrated at funeral services on Friday, July 7th. A viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00p.m. on Thursday, July 6th, at Wilks Funeral Home, located at 211 West Chubbuck Road and again at 10:00 a.m. July 7th, at the Alameda Stake building located at 930 East Alameda Road. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello.

Carl Morris Marler will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

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