Carl Blomgren A Lover of Life; Tough and Tender; An Authentic Being of the World

Carl Blomgren was born January 30, 1936 in Seattle.He graduated from Garfield High School and numerous colleges and universities, including a year overseas at the University of Edinburgh. In school, he played baseball and football, and took every math, philosophy, and literature class available.(None of his schools had wrestling programs, otherwise he would have undoubtedly excelled at it. Instead, he passed on his love of the sport to his sons.)

While often deliberate in his actions, Carl wasted no time in recognizing the love of his life, Marcia.They met in January, were engaged in February, and married in April, 1970.Soon thereafter, they moved to Vashon Island, to live "the good life" (a phrase that Carl repeated regularly and vigorously).

Carl lasted two days as an accountant in his dad's business. Instead, he became a janitor, groundskeeper, teacher, coach, and tutor. He loved the natural world: he built his own log cabin from the trees on his land, worked tirelessly in the woods, and spent his life musing on the wonder inherent in our world.

Carl loved bikes, books, and baked goods.He was both simple and complex, finding equal satisfaction in a Seahawks victory and a volume of existential philosophy by Soren Kierkegaard.He had an insatiable thirst for life, learning, and daily naps.He was fiercely loyal to his family and close friends.Carl's family includes his wife, Marcia, sons Anders and Per-Lars, daughter- in-law Alison, and grandson Soren.

Fueled by an intensely competitive nature, Carl feverishly coached baseball and wrestling. He valued courage, hard work, and selflessness.He never wanted attention or accolades for his good deedsa"he would much rather credit those around him.Carl was a humble, compassionate man.

While Carl was a master with wordsa"particularly the written worda"many of the lessons he taught were through actions. "Don't just talk about it," he would say without saying, "do it." Joseph Campbell writes that "the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."This was Carl Blomgren's silent, daily mantra.He was truly an authentic being of the world.

Carl's life was devoid of fear; the idea of him worrying about anything was incomprehensible.This ideology included an embracement of his own, our own, mortality.Carl was not afraid of death.He died July 16, 2013, on his own terms: quickly, on his own land, looking up at the trees.Carl's Survivors include:

Immediate Family: Wife, Marcia.Sons, Anders and Per-Lars.Daughter-in-law, Alison.And Grandson, Soren.

Twin Sister, Carolyn (Quiwie) Magnuson; Sister, Helen Marie Westlund; Brother, Robert Blomgren; Brother-in-law, John Markuson; and numerous, loving nephews and nieces.

Carl Blomgren was the son of the late Carl Harold and Helen Marie Blomgren.

He will be missed by all who knew him; he was a deeply caring, compassionate, and loyal man who touched so many with his sincere love and personal vitality.

A Few More Personal Notes that Carl wanted in his Obituary:

Carl was a self proclaimed "Lovable Rogue".He never wanted to belong to the upper, white collar, stiff and proper class.He admired rogues and madmen who took an alternative path in life.He loved to pick up hitch-hikers and listen to anyone's story; in this way, he was a rogue himself, but not one devoid of loyalty, intelligence, and compassion.

Carl was a lover of life and he focused on the here and now, the moment, the beauty and obstacles that awe and stupefy us on a daily basis. He was also a lover of learning and a lover of courage and toughness.

Carl was tough and tender.He never wanted sympathy, but he was the toughest man alive.He never complained, but he was always empathetica"being present and caring for the less fortunate to help them out, as a coach, teacher, and friend.

The Prankster Spirit sparked Carl and his mischievous behavior.Much like Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters, Carl never aimed to hurt anyone with his pranks, but to keep them on their toes and to experience the feeling of being alive.Carl also played a role in the play "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest", acting as Scanlon, the mad bomber, walking around with wild eyes in a bathrobe, a bowling ball in his briefcase.

Carl worked on a fishing boat in Alaska, and he was on the only white crew member on a native boat.He traveled across the country in a motorcycle with no money, sleeping in abandoned hotels and working along the way to keep the trip alive.(He was a big fan of the novel "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", of course.)Many of these shenanigans he did along with his good buddy, Tom/Tucker. the two later reconnected on Vashon, and spent many afternoons musing on their memories.

He was the class president at Garfield and displayed a riveting, heartfelt, and memorable speech as a senior.He also spoke at Vashon Island Graduation as the faculty speaker, voted on by the students.

Carl was so proud and loyal to his family.His loved his wife Marcia beyond belief, and constantly said how lucky he was to have her.He also was so proud of his two sons: both wrestling coaches at Vashon High School, and Anders an English teacher at Vashon High School and Per-Lars a math teacher at McMurray Middle School.

Carl played football and baseball in high school at Garfield and college at North Park College in Chicago, Illinois.He also had a short stint as a basketball player on the Scottish National Team in Edinborough (but he's perhaps known more for hiking his shorts up way high for the team picture.In other words, none of us know if he played much, but he certainly made his mark as a prankster.)

Carl suffered physically (and mentally) in the later years of his life.His joints were deteriorating and he had between 15-20 joint surgeries in his lifetimea"4 artificial knees, a fused back and a fused ankle, just to name a few.This was not easy for him, especially after being a star college athlete and one who worked daily in the woods and biked to work every day.But like he wrote in a note to son Anders after a tough loss in a wrestling match, "If it comes to easy, it ain't worth a damn!"He was one of the toughest men on earth.Carl also was having a hard time with his memory.This frustrated him with his reading and conversations with people.Regardless, he kept his weekly meetings at CafAC. Luna, Bob's Bakery, and Snapdragon with friends and he still read vigorously and passionately and met with his sons and conversed with his wife with eloquence and sincerity.

He will be missed by us all, so much, but his spirit will live on with usa"a spirit that's tough and tender, that loves life, and that loves rogues and is authentic to its core.

God bless you Carl, and know that you were loved and will be remembered, forever.

His life will be celebrated on Saturday, August 3rd at 2 p.m. at Camp Burton.

Memorials may be made to Vashon Grapplers Society PO Box 2164 Vashon, WA. 98070 and Habit for Humanity 121 Habiatat St. Americus, GA. 31709-3498

Memorial questions contact Jeri Jo Carstairs: jerijoc@centurytel.net.

Blomgren Family: 13525 SW 207th Lane Vashon, WA. 98070