Obituary of Carl Edlund

Carl Arvid Edlund died Sunday April 19, 2020 in his home, surrounded by his wife Jane and his children Carla, Lydia and Dan, and Eric and Nancy. Carl had a stroke in the fall and had been recovering at Misty Glen Rehab Center. He came home on the Wednesday previous to his death. Carl was a prominent community leader. He was Cortland County Treasurer from 1979 until 2000 when he retired. He was instrumental in modernizing Cortland County to have all their systems and records computerized. Prior to this he was Senior Technical Advisor for consumer products at Smith Corona Marchant from 1955 to 1979. Carl was an inventor and held several patents from the 1950’s. Carl worked to better his community. He was a member of the Homer Congregational Church. As a member he also served as a deacon and a trustee and partnered with Carlton Potter to establish an endowment fund to sustain the church. Carl was the treasurer of the Cortland Hospital Board of Trustees and served on the Cortland Hospice Board. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his work for Cortland Memorial Hospital for service from 1982 – 1988. He was a member of Cortland Rotary. Rotary named Carl a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given to the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world. He was the President of the Board of Education for Homer Central School, serving on the board between 1963 and 1969. As the president, he was able to present his daughter Carla and her classmates with their diplomas. He served as chairman of the Cortlandville Republican Committee and the Homer Village Green Committee. Carl was a volunteer for over 40 years at the Elizabeth Brewster House. He served on the board, and he lead a capital campaign to add a 3000 square foot 2 story wing to provide more rooms for residents, office space, and an activity room. While he served, he influenced the Brewster House to include men for the first time as their residents. As member of the board, he helped to establish an endowment fund. In April of 2013, the Brewster House held a luncheon to honor Carl. His portrait is displayed in the lobby of the Brewster House. Carl was foremost dedicated to family. He always had time for fun with family. He was a golfer, skier and hunter. He had all of us on the ski slopes, first at Snow Crest and then at Greek Peak, as well as trips to Stowe Mountain. He skied well into his 80’s. He loved to sail and fish on Skaneateles Lake. In the 60’s he competed in the sail boat races on the south end of Skaneateles with his Comet sailboat. There were family camping trips to the Adirondacks with the Edlund cousins and much time at the Durkee Cottage on Skaneateles. Christmas always included a visit from Santa Claus. He loved to tell jokes and so often he could not give the punch line because he could not stop laughing knowing what was coming. Jane and Carl were able to visit the historic family sites in Sweden and Ireland on a trip to Europe. They were greeted by family from both the Edlund and O’Connell sides. They also took trips to Hawaii and a skiing trip to the mountains in Colorado. Carl was a good friend. He had friends he held tight with from his childhood. He kept a close bond with Newell Willcox, Murray Aldrich, Roland Cook, Dick King, Dave Evens and Gordon Bowker all through his life. From the bits of stories we overheard over the years we think that crew had some wild times. And likewise he keep a close friendship with their Friday Night Dinner Club which started over 50 years ago with sisters Carolyn and Barb and husbands Jack and Al along with Roger and Shirley Batchelder. Currently it has evolved into the Friday Night Dinner Club including Roger, Virginia, Sandy, Peter, Dick, Ardis, Meredith, Juneann, Charlene, Mike, Dena, Amy, Carla, Lydia, Dan, Eric and Nancy. Of course there are many other friends not mentioned that have touched his life and he theirs. The love of his life is of course Jane Louise Durkee Edlund. Their relationship and love is so inspiring. It was not unusual to hear Carl call ‘Janie.. Janie.. Janie..’ and when she would say ‘What Carl’ he would say ‘ I love you ‘ and she would say “I love you too”. They celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary last November Carl was born to Nellie O’Connell Edlund and Carl Arvid Edlund Sr. Carl Senior and sister Genevieve were the second generation of executives at the Edlund Machine Co started by their father John Edlund. Carl had 2 older sisters Carolyn Tainter and Barb King. Carl is survived by his wife Jane, children Carla (Lane) Walsh, Lydia (Dan Bock) Edlund and Eric (Nancy) Edlund, Grandchildren Beth (Chris) Leatham, Sarah Jones, Pierce Walsh, Briony Walsh, Megan (Andrew) Boone, Ashley (Stuart) Chescheir, Onolee (Bryan) Stephan and Nash (Heather) Bock. Great Grandchildren Owl, Raven, Kestrel, Lucy, Quinn, Cole, Elizabeth, Madelyn and Rowan. Carl was predeceased by parents and sisters and his son Eugene Jones and a great grandchild Nissa Walsh. Carl joined the Navy during World War II when he was 17. Like so many others, he enlisted before graduating from high school. After the end of the war, Carl went to Hobart College, graduating in May of 1949 with a degree in Mathematics and Engineering. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no calling hours will be held. You are welcome to join the virtual service at Wright-Beard Funeral Home Facebook page, which needs no login or membership, on Friday, April 24, 2020 at 2PM. Please note you are welcome to connect at 1:30PM to enjoy a slide show of memories of Carl. Burial will be held at the Cortland Rural Cemetery where Carl will be honored as a Veteran of World War II by the Cortland County Veteran’s Services. Donations may be made to Elizabeth Brewster House 41 South Main Street Homer NY 13077 or Hospice & Palliative Services 11 Kennedy Parkway, Cortland, NY 13045.