Gary Donald Carlson

Gary Donald Carlson of Anoka, Minnesota passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 28, 2025, at home in hospice care, at the honored age of 76. Gary was born on November 22, 1948 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Betty (Wendt) and Donald Carlson and grew up in Crystal, Minnesota with his parents, siblings (David, Linda and Theresa) and grandparents, Iver and Edna Carlson and Carie Wendt. As a young man, Gary made the wisest decision of his life when he married Cathy (Buckley) on October 25, 1968, at Sacred Heart Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota and together they raised four children, whom he loved dearly and took great pride in. Gary enjoyed a full life of fun and adventure with his loving wife Cathy, spent many treasured years enjoying their family cabin on Big Elbow Lake in Waubun, Minnesota, traveled the Caribbean via cruise ship and beach vacations and was always up for a drive exploring Minnesota and the many surrounding states. Gary's career focused on automotive sales and management. He always enjoyed working on vehicles, and in retirement, he continued to tinker with many vehicles in his garage, and accomplished his personal goal of working on and selling 52 Ford Escapes. In retirement, Gary and Cathy enjoyed spending weeks at a time at their family cabin in the company of brother in-law Gary (Sherry) Buckley and sister in-law Nancy (Jeff) Whitecotton. Everywhere Gary went, either local adventures or while traveling, it seemed he encountered someone he knew, and always made new friends in life. Family and friends meant everything to him Gary is lovingly honored by his wife, Cathy, and his children and their spouses; daughter Lisa (Kevin) Pederson, daughter Cindy (Jack) Sjurseth, son Jeffrey (Sarah). He is also survived by his two granddaughters Kaitlyn and Rachel (Travis) Sjurseth and great-grandson (Greyson) who brought him great joy, and by his mother Betty Smith, brother David, sister Linda (Ron) Olson, brother in-law Gary (Sherry) Buckley, sister in-law Nancy (Jeff) Whitecotton and many treasured nieces, nephews and friends. He follows to heaven his son Christopher, father Donald, sister Terri, grandparents, and the many other ancestors who had bequeathed to him the values of hard work, persistence and resilience in tough times, unconditional love and support to family, helpfulness and gratitude to friends and neighbors. We strive to carry on in his example. A funeral service to celebrate Gary's life will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior, luncheon to follow service. Lord of Life Church, 14501 Nowthen Boulevard, Ramsey, MN Interment to follow at 3:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Cemetery, New Hope MN (8151 42nd Avenue North) For flowers, please order from Main Floral, Anoka: Address: 1917 2nd Ave, Anoka, MN 55303 Phone: (763) 421-7411

Tributes

Gary Donald Carlson

November 22, 1948 - March 28, 2025

Tributes

Gary Donald Carlson

November 22, 1948 - March 28, 2025

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