John Edlund

John Edlund

January 21, 2023

Carmichael, California - John Andrew Edlund

1939 – January 21, 2023

In loving memory of John Edlund, who passed away a year ago. John was born in Spokane, WA and raised in Olympia, WA. His family belonged to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church where he met his wife at church youth group.

John's legacy began early in his youth with jobs picking strawberries, summer employment around Olympia and driving school buses for three years during college. He learned from his parents to help others in need. The church and his family helped the Estonian immigrants with donations and hand-me-downs. One recipient became a life-long friend.

In the summer of 1958, he went on the road selling pots and pans in OR and CA, sleeping in his car in graveyards, and barely making enough for gas money. John graduated from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) with degrees in math and physics. He earned a graduate degree in Mathematics at the University of Oregon while working as a teaching assistant there.

John and his wife married in 1963 and moved to Richland, WA where he worked for GE at Hanford and where their daughter and son were born. The connection with their circle of friends from Richland remains today. After jobs in Calgary and Vancouver, Canada, they moved to Sacramento, CA seeking a warm climate, where they raised their family and spent the next 50 years. John worked as a Data Processing Manager with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

John retired at 58. They moved to Sun City Roseville. He took up cycling logging 43,000 miles. They bought an RV and toured much of the Western US and Canada. John was in clubs at Sun City Roseville and later at Eskaton Carmichael. He combined his love of cars by becoming a docent at the California Automobile Museum for 19 years.

His Scandinavian heritage compelled him to give first to the work of the church, PLU and then all his charities. John imparted his values on his grandkids. When he sent them money, he included the reminder to first share, then save, and then spend.

John was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 14 years ago but remained active until a year before his passing. In the toughest of times, he maintained a discipline that few could match. As the patriarch of the Edlund family, he enjoyed regular family reunions and was a strong believer in setting a good example for future generations.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, his three sisters, a daughter, a son, and four grandkids.

John was laid to rest in Olympia, WA.