Obituary of Edwin Godtfred Carlsen

Edwin Godtfred Carlsen, 88, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Wednesday May 18, 2016 at The Gardens at South Port Square. He was born March 21, 1928 to Sigfred and Florence (nee Jensen) Carlsen in Muskegon, MI and moved to Punta Gorda from Kalamazoo, MI in 1999 with his wife of 67 years, Shirley A. Carlsen who preceded him in death by 3 months. Edwin graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in chemistry. He was the Manager at Lockshore Dairy in Kalamazoo, MI, and then a Research Chemist at The Upjohn Company for over 20 years until he retired. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxillary in Punta Gorda and loved volunteering for Safety patrols. Edwin enjoyed fishing with Shirley, his children and grandchildren in Michigan and Florida and sail boating along the Lake Michigan coast. He put a high value on using one's ingenuity as was demonstrated by his clever inventive nature, his resourcefulness, skill in conception, design, and implementation. Edwin had a wonderful sense of humor and entertained his family with humorous anecdotes from his life. Physical fitness was a trait he encouraged in his children (and their friends) as he demonstrated through jogging, water skiing, and racquetball games. Board games with his family and especially nightly cribbage games were his delight. Edwin was dedicated to Shirley and loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include his children, Patti Carlsen, Phyllis (Vince) Adamaitis, Tracee (Steve) Scheidt, and Jeffrey (Karen) Carlsen; brother, Kenneth (Joan) Carlsen; sister, Helen (Bill) Graessley; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces. The family will hold a private burial at sea at a later date.