Carl Albin Almquist

Carl Albin Almquist, Jr. of Arvada, Colorado, was born on January 10, 1932, in Denver, Colorado, to homemaker Amber Leora (Root), and Union Pacific Railroad Boiler Maker Carl Albin Almquist, Sr. Carl grew up in North Denver and attended Edison Elementary, Skinner Junior High and graduated from North High School in 1950. During his youth, he was an avid Boy Scout, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in 1948. He attended the Highlands United Methodist Church and was active in its Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). He learned to play the trombone and competed on the North High School wrestling team. During the summers, he traveled by train to Nebraska to work on his aunt and uncle’s farm alongside his cousin Linda.

Carl attended Colorado Agricultural & Mechanical College, known as “Aggies” (now Colorado State University) in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was a ROTC cadet and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of General Science and Arts degree and a commission to be 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. He served his tour of duty in Iceland. Upon returning to Colorado in 1957, Carl began his career in the banking industry as a teller and retired as a vice president and branch manager in 1987. A memorable day in his career was December 9, 1964, when he apprehended a bank robber by chasing him out of the bank, hurling a heavy ash tray at him, tackling him to the ground, and holding him there until the police arrived. The most life-changing day at his bank happened years earlier when he met a beautiful young schoolteacher named Jean who just happened to show up at his teller window every time she needed to make a bank deposit which, incidentally, was often. Eventually Carl returned her receipt accompanied by a request to go out on a date, and she said, “YES!”

After a short courtship and a Valentine’s Day proposal, they were married at Central Presbyterian Church in Denver on June 15, 1958. The following year they purchased their first home at 6401 Iris Ct. in Arvada. No sooner had the furniture arrived than their daughter Susan was born in 1959. Karen arrived in 1961, and Catherine in 1965.

Carl’s busy life revolved around his family and community. He loved building snow igloos in the back yard with his girls and many neighborhood children and building toys in his workshop. As the girls got older he and Jean attended every concert, play and musical their daughters performed in (including Sue’s later concerts with the Arvada Center and Alpine Chorales). Other hobbies included climbing 14ers with his girls, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, gardening, cross-country skiing, hunting, fixing cars and everything imaginable, refinishing the basement, telling dad jokes, and mapping out routes for the family’s annual summer camping trips throughout the United States.

Carl cared deeply about his community. He was a founding and active member of The Optimist Club of Arvada for 50 years, where he was involved in countless projects, including volunteering weekly with both the Read-to-me Program and the Arvada Food Bank’s Backpack Program. He helped build 10 Habitat for Humanity Homes and donated over 10 gallons of blood to the Bonfils Blood Center. For his dedication to community service, he was honored as Arvada’s Man of the Year in 2004.

Carl served with Jean in the Arvada United Methodist Church community for 68 years. They were members of the choir for 60 years, “Unit Leaders” and trained extensively to become Stephen Ministers (lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life). He and Jean also helped sponsor families to emigrate from Cuba and were involved in the Four-Family Fellowship group, which was an inter-racial dinner group. Carl also served in the Denver Urban Ministries (DenUM) which was a Methodist organization that created opportunities and provided resources for people in crisis. Carl was known to pile mattresses, dressers and all manner of household goods atop his Chevy Citation car in seemingly precarious fashion and deliver them safely all over Denver.

Carl and Jean were married for 64.5 years. After their retirement they enjoyed a great deal of travel throughout Europe and South America, on tours, cruises, and Elderhostel trips. They also loved spending time with their seven grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Carl is survived by his daughters: Sue (Chuck) Runge, Karen (Jon) Kuhns, and Catherine (Dave) Heeley; grandchildren: Colin (Sara) Runge, Conor (Holly) Runge, Breanne (Matt) Peterson, Will & Annie Kuhns, and Stephanie & Luke Heeley; great grandchildren: Nolan & Isabelle Runge, Emma & Lily Runge, and Taytum & Gavin Peterson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Alpine Chorale

PO Box 745401

Arvada CO 80006

alpinechoraleco.org

OR

Habitat for Humanity

PO Box 5202

Denver, CO 80217

https://habitatmetrodenver.org/donate/donate-now/

A celebration of life will be held at Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr St. on Saturday, July 25th at 10:30 am.

Those who are unable to attend can view the service at https://youtube.com/live/HW_Qh4cs1pw?feature=share