Death of L-U staffer leaves void in plant

They don’t make ’em like him anymore.

Carl DeMoulin, a faithful employee of The Leader-Union since 1970, died last Friday at 82. He worked until mid-day on Wednesday, which is about as close as you can get these days to dying with your boots on.
He leaves a hole that won’t easily be filled.
Carl entered newspapering in a mid-career move at about age 40. Prior to that, he’d served in the Army in Korea, worked at his brother’s appliance store in his native Mulberry Grove and worked in a sawmill in Decatur.
After 23 years of full-time employment and another 19 as a part-timer, he knew pretty much all that there was to know about The Leader-Union printing plant. Short of running the press, there weren’t many jobs he couldn’t do.
In his first job at the paper, he operated a Linotype – a marvelous typesetting machine that has been called the eighth wonder of the world. It was an incredibly complex machine that produced a “line of type” rather than setting one letter at a time as previous systems had. Its mesmerizing clatter revolutionized the printing business nearly as completely as Gutenberg’s invention of moveable type.
But the times they were a changing. New printing systems were introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, and The Leader-Union no longer needed Linotype operators. But it still needed Carl. His work ethic, loyalty and mechanical abilities made him a valuable employee, no matter what the technology.
He’d show up for work early. He’d stay late if he was needed. And when he was on the clock, he could outwork men half his age.
In his later years, he’d even pop in on his days off. He’d enter the front office with a cheery “Good day, good people!”
A lifelong bachelor, he valued his privacy. And he lived a no-frills Spartan life – never caring much for fancy clothes or other material possessions. But he also seemed happiest when he was around his work “family.” He had an infectious laugh that lifted the spirits of those around him.
If he had any vices, it was buying lottery tickets. And he had a knack for winning with uncanny regularity. True to form, though, he’d share the winnings with The Leader-Union staff – buying a couple pizzas so we could enjoy his good fortune.
From what we’ve heard, he had a pretty decent curve ball as a high school baseball player. That youthful interest grew into a lifelong passion for the St. Louis Cardinals. He also found much enjoyment in bowling, which he continued well into his senior years.
Without a doubt, Carl was old school. He worked hard and he took his responsibilities seriously. When he was preparing the bundles of papers to do his route, we all knew that we had best stay out of his way. Everything had a place and, by George, it better be there.
We’ll miss him, in a thousand little ways. But we’ll do our best to carry on his traditions – to do the work with as much care and enthusiasm as we can, and to sweat the small stuff. Because, as Carl knew, accomplishing the big things requires doing the small things right.