Carl Dean Fuhlendorf

Carl passed away peacefully at home, where he wanted to be. He was born in Vona, Colorado to Frederick and Chloe Fuhlendorf. He was the 2nd youngest of 9 children and survived them all. He spent his younger years in Vona, during the dust bowl. The family moved to Wheatridge, CO in the early 40’s where he worked for celery and strawberry farmers while attending and graduating from Wheatridge High school in 1946.

He joined the Army in November 1950 and was stationed in Korea. He earned the rank of Corporal. He actively served for 2 years and was in the reserves until September 1956.

When he returned to Denver, he worked in the basement of Western Seed Company tending to vegetation of all kinds. From there he went to Euser’s Garden Center as a store manager for several years. During his time there he met Mary Margaret McKee who lived in the same apartment building on Colfax. They married in February 1955, in the middle of a snowstorm, in Mary’s hometown of Montezuma, Iowa. He bought their first house, sight unseen on the corner of Evans and Lowell in Southwest Denver. They watched Harvey Park grow from there.

After Euser’s he worked for Martin Marietta for a short time before being hired by Chevron Chemical Company to be a salesman in their Consumer Products Division (Ortho). He was with them for 20 years. He worked out of the home and had a territory that reached from 6th Avenue north to the northern border of Wyoming and stretched east to include the northwest corner of Nebraska. He earned many awards for his salesmanship and was known as Mr. Consistency. He was very proud of the fact that at one time his boss was going to be out of the office for some time but left instructions that if Carl called and asked for anything, just give it to him. He retired from Chevron Chemical Company in November 1986.

He could not stop working. He continued to work for Paulino’s Garden Center part time for another 20 years. He decided at 90 it was time to retire for good. He loved helping people pick out their plants and solve their lawn and garden problems. He was well qualified to do so after earning his Master Gardener Certification from Colorado State University in 1988 and held that honor for 4 years.

He and Mary enjoyed travelling to visit family and going on Mission trips to help in different areas of the country where they painted, made curtains, and whatever else was needed to keep retreat centers looking good. They also took a once in a lifetime trip to Israel. He was a founding member of the ROMEOS, Really Old Men Eating Out, a group of church friends that met once a week to have breakfast and share time together. He loved watching football (Go Broncos!) and old western movies.

In addition to working and travelling Carl had other hobbies as well. He enjoyed doing wood carving, and made carousel animals for all his kids and grandkids. He also enjoyed working with stained glass, reading westerns, gardening, and playing with all the grandchildren.

Carl and Mary had 3 children, Randy, Susan and Carla. All attended college thanks to his fertilizer and chemical sales. He was a man of great faith. As a family, they attended St. Andrew Presbyterian Church where he served as a Ruling Elder. They then moved to Lakewood Presbyterian Church in the late 70’s where he held the same position. Most recently Carl and Mary moved back to St. Andrew for worship and service.

His love for his family was unwavering and always on his mind and his heart. Carl is survived by his lovely wife Mary, 3 children, 5 grandchildren (Matthew, Melissa, Sara, Steven and Christian), and 10 great-grandchildren (Natalie, Jackson, Warren, Lilly Ann, Charlotte (Charlie), Lucas, Olivia, Carter, Walker, and Anderson). Carl is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and some great-greats as well. 

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Chloe Fuhlendorf, sisters Violet, Mable, Velma, Francis and Opal, and brothers Leroy, Albert (Wayne) and Leonard (Dale), as well as nieces and nephews. It gives the family great peace to know he is with them now and watching over all of us.

We will celebrate the life of Carl Fuhlendorf at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday February 6, 2025, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Denver CO.  A reception will follow at the church prior to his Burial Service at Fort Logan Cemetary at 2:30 p.m..