Carl Lee Depping

Carl Lee Depping, 85, passed away at Kadlec Regional Medical Center after fighting a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease since 2007. Carl was born on January 14, 1941, in Walla Walla, WA. To William and Arletta Depping.

He grew up in the Walla Walla Valley and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1959. Carl was an avid basketball and baseball player during his school years. He loved to play his saxophone and clarinet, resulting in him playing all the way to Chicago for an FFA competition. This love for music he passed on to his children and grandchildren, who went on to play the clarinet themselves.

Carl lived in Canada for a while with his folks, where he raised 300 head of purebred Cheviot Sheep, which he established in 1953, and continued to raise a few head up to his time of passing. He did custom sheep shearing and showed his flock and other breeders’ show strings all throughout Canada and the States by boxcar with his faithful border collie being his traveling companion. Due to a barn accident in which he broke his back, he and his folks returned to the homestead in Walla Walla.

Carl and his wife, Eileen Depping, started a home business, The White Ram, where they made garments and decorative items out of sheepskin. Due to his love of carving, later they included wood carvings as well. Carl was always known for his inventive skills and was famous for saying, “Why buy it when I can make it.” This led to many parts and pieces of previously used items lying around waiting for a rebirth, which he would usually deliver on. If there ever was a real-life “MacGyver,” Carl would be the one.

Carl and his wife Eileen just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last November of 2025. They have two children, their oldest, Nicole (married to Scott Broesch), and their youngest, Trevor (married to Magnolia Flores), and two grandchildren, Baylie and Brendon Broesch (the children of Nicole and Scott).

Carl is survived by his wife, Eileen Depping, of Walla Walla, WA; and his children, Nicole Broesch, of Ephrata, WA, and Trevor Depping, of Walla Walla, WA.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, William and Arletta Depping of Walla Walla, WA; and both brothers, Jerry Depping of Helena, MT, and Lynn Depping of Walla Walla, WA.

In lieu of a service and memorial, a celebration of life will be held on the family farm at a later date.

To help honor Carl’s memory, the family would appreciate it if others would donate to their favorite Parkinson’s Foundation. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.