Carl Bloomquist Obituary

Carl Chresten Bloomquist died May 25, 2024, in Elk River where he and his beloved wife Cooki, Florence Rita Worob, lived into their 48th year together.

Carl was born in Hutchinson on October 3, 1937. His parents were Carl Gustav Bloomquist and Mary (known as Marie) Hansine Peterson. CarolAne Alma Bloomquist, Carl's older sister, predeceased him.

Upon graduation from Hutchinson High School, Carl attended Macalister College and the University of MN Department of Mechanical Engineering, graduating with what-was-then a five-year Bachelor of Science Degree.

Carl began his career as a Mechanical Engineer at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, WA. He then moved to Connecticut where he was initially employed at Hamilton-Standard, a company which developed products for NASA. Being a very self-effacing person, Carl never bragged about himself or any of his many achievements, his most significant being his solving the problem for a connector in the backpack used by the astronauts during the Apollo missions while travelling to and walking on the moon. That backpack can still be viewed while on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

Among other companies at which he worked, contributing his unique, out-of-the-box expertise, were, in Connecticut, Schick Safety Razor and Bic Pen, then, when back in Minnesota, Litton Microwave and Rosemount Engineering. While there, using his accumulated computer skills to Rosemount's benefit, Carl saved them enormous amounts of money with the computer systems he'd developed. It was there, always troubleshooting and solving problems, his career as a Senior Quality Engineer ended.

Carl's avocation was always his music. He read music and also played by ear. He learned to play his tuba before his teenage years, played in high school bands and began playing professionally during that time in German bands, for Octoberfest-type festivals, and other dance bands - playing rock 'n roll, pop, Dixieland, country.

All through his life, Carl parented many animals - dogs, cats, even rabbits. His most loved was Knickers, "Nicky," our last Miniature Schnauzer, who was with us for most of his 13 years after we adopted him as a rescue, as with our other dogs.

One had to know Carl to understand his subtle sense of humor. He was always kind, gentle, considerate and generous. He was dedicated to his work; knowing he was doing the best he could was important to him. When in supervisory positions, he always tried to treat those who worked for him respectfully, even making friends with some. After retirement, he spent many years volunteering in Elk River, helping various organizations, such as United Way and the Senior Activity Center, and also individuals solving their difficulties with their computers.

Carl's favorite hobby was always motorcycling. He loved riding more than arriving at his destination. His first bike was a small Honda which he learned to ride while in Washington, then a 1934 model Harley which he rebuilt. He then owned an early 1960s Harley, a Triumph, then a 1978 Electra Glide which relocated with us from Connecticut to Minnesota. When Carl grew tired of spending more time repairing the Harley than riding it, it was replaced first by one Honda Gold Wing, then eventually another. We rode those various bikes all over Connecticut, Minnesota, and much of the continental United States, from coast-to-coast, and across Canada.

His other hobbies/interests were photography, reading, genealogy, nature - flora and fauna, especially monarch butterflies and their development. Carl was quite an expert on WWII, predominantly in Europe.

Carl met Cooki in an unusual manner - through a singles magazine he found purely by chance in the lobby of his apartment building. Friends encouraged Cooki to respond to his letter in the magazine. They first corresponded by letters, then phone calls, then, eventually, on December 10, 1976, met in person; they were married on April 28, 1978, in Port Chester, NY, leaving Connecticut four days later to relocate to Minnesota for Carl's return after 17 years. Carl is, and will always be, desperately missed.

Comments, condolences at www.daresfuneralservice.com.