Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 14, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm. Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery, Soldier’s Rest section where the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard and the New Ulm Battery will provide full military honors.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, August 13, 2021 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH CHAPEL in New Ulm. Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm.

Masks are encouraged.

To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.

Carl Louis Wyczawski was born January 26, 1926 in Thorp, Wisconsin, and was the youngest of seven boys and one girl. His father, Frank, came from Austria and his mother, Mary, from San Francisco. Carl graduated from high school in 1944 and graduated from Superior State in 1949 with a degree in Journalism. After college he wrote sports for the Leader and Daily Telegram newspaper in Eau Claire, WI until 1950, when he then was drafted into the Army during the Korean War where he was in the 361 st Engineer Construction Battalion. He was transferred to post headquarters in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After he served in the Army he worked for The Sporting News in St. Louis before returning to Eau Claire as a journalist for the Leader. While in Eau Claire, he met and later married Mary Green. He then became the assistant public relations director for the Milwaukee Braves. One highlight of his career with the Braves was when he served as the public address announcer for the 1955 All Star baseball game.

Carl and Mary moved to New Ulm in 1956 where he joined his father-in-law at Green Clothiers and acted as president from 1962-1988. Carl was heavily involved in the New Ulm community, serving as mayor from 1970-1994 following his position on the city council from 1964-1970. He was adamant that his primary role as mayor was to be the “promoter” of the city, which he loved so deeply. He was named Outstanding City Young Man from the New Ulm Jaycees, was involved in the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, United Way, Quarterback Club, and the New Ulm Club. He had a perfect record of attendance with the New Ulm Rotary for 22 years.

Carl was a charter member of New Ulm Toastmaster as well as New Ulm United Way. He was the oldest member of New Ulm Club having served 47 years. For 26 years he was instrumental in selecting the speaker for the annual New Ulm Club banquet honoring senior athletes, which included Jesse Owens (1936 U.S. Olympic star) in 1961 and Dan Devine (Notre Dame and Green Bay Packer football coach) in 1963. Carl was personal friends of Paul Giel, Herb Brooks, and Andy North. He became friends to six governors as well as many Major League Baseball Hall of Famers. He was delighted to have the opportunity to meet the likes of Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Paul Waner, and became friends with Stan Musial and Roger Maris.

Carl loved to engage with people, and enjoyed uncovering whatever connections he had with those he met. The stories he had from the many people he met, chronicled via an unbelievable collection of photos, articles, and personal memorabilia, were inspiring. Carl was lucky enough to attend ten MLB World Series, seven MLB All-Star games, one Super Bowl, and two PGA Golf Championships.

His volunteer service was significant beyond New Ulm, serving as president for the Minnesota League of Cities, and as chairman of organizations such as Minnesota Sports Commission and Minnesota Highway Commission.

Carl contributed heavily to the success of New Ulm baseball, including VFW, legion, high school, and amateur leagues. He was named to the New Ulm Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, and the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He has helped preserve history by keeping meticulous records of all sorts of statistics going back many seasons across many sports that will be shared with the community of New Ulm. In 1978, Carl served as manager to New Ulm Legion team that made it to the National World Series in Yakima, Washington.

Carl is survived by his children, Steven Wyczawski of St. Paul, Mary Beth (Patrick) Murray of Coon Rapids, Paul (Yvette) Wyczawski of Dubuque, Sara (David) Stenhaug of Rochester, Thomas Wyczawski of New Ulm, Patricia (Phil) Martin of Eagan, and Amy (Chris) Cooke of New Ulm; grandchildren Trenton (Courtney), Travis (Ann), Jordan (Wahoo) and Joshua (Liz) Wyczawski, Tim Murray, Katie (Steve) Trennepohl, Meghan Murray, Susan (Ben) Weimer, Lizzie Stenhaug, Henry and Isaac Martin, and Allie and Sophia Cooke. His 13 great grandchildren included Taylor, Lucy, Lorelei, Jackson, Ailey, Charlie, Maggie, Will, Claire, Logan, Dakota, Nora, and Raymond.

His parents, as well as his wife Mary, preceded Carl in death, and his brothers Val, John, Andrew, Ed, Stanley, Tony, and his sister Ann. Two uncles died in World War I in Europe.

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