Carl James Appelberg

CARL JAMES APPELBERG died October 19, 2018 in St. Joseph Hospital at the age of 90. Born May 16, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of Rev. Carl and Marie Appelberg, who preceded him in death along with siblings Anna Katrina (Catherine) Chidgey and Lars Christian Appelberg. In 1936 the family returned to Denmark. Carl graduated High School in Tarm, Denmark and received a degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute in Copenhagen. He joined the Engineering Department of the Danish State Railways in Aarhus as a test engineer. Carl served in the Danish Navy as a Lieutenant. General Electric was impressed with his work and recruited him in 1956 where he subsequently worked in Tyler, Texas; Valley Forge, PA; Houston, TX and Cape Canaveral. In 1962 Carl became one of twelve GE engineers to work on the GEMINI project for NASA. Two years later, he became Manager for Thermal Analysis on the APOLLO Project, as part of the Manned Spacecraft Support Operation. In 1965 Carl started numerous stores with imported teak furniture from Denmark "Shop in Denmark". After retirement, Carl worked for Seminole Gulf Railway in Ft. Myers, FL. He subsequently moved to Fort Wayne and took up residence with his wife, Brunhilde Else Holter, who was at his side until the end. Carl is also survived by his only child, Katrina A. Griffith of Boulder, CO and her three adoring children Chase A. Gaumond; Kirsten Elisabeth Gaumond, and Maxwell Griffith. He will be laid to rest in Denmark. A celebration of life is scheduled for November 17, 2018 at Biaggi's on West Jefferson Blvd. from 11 am to 2 pm.