Carl A. Sundquist

Crystal Lake – Carl A. Sundquist, 98, died Tuesday September 20, 2011. He was born December 30, 1912 in St. Paul, MN and lived in that area during his early years. Since he was 13 he lived and worked on various farms where he also developed mechanical skills and learned some Polish language. At 19 he moved to Chicago where he later met and married Helen Johnson on February 15, 1936. During their early married years, he worked for a couple of major hotels as their main daily cash accountant while he went to technical school to develop his mechanical education and began working for Oak Manufacturing Co. in 1940.

While at Oak, Carl was a Junior Achievement Advisor, Director of Employee Safety for both manufacturing buildings, member of ASTE, and many other professional engineering organizations. He retired in 1977 as the Chief Tool Designer.

Carl was a lifetime member of the Viking Lodge. In the 40’s and 50’s, in Arlington Heights, he was active in parent school activities at the small country school. He ushered and was on the finance committee at St. Peter Lutheran Church. After moving to Crystal Lake in 1959, he and Helen became members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He also attended First United Methodist Church with his daughter and family. He was known by neighborhood children as Grandpa, the one who fixed their bikes.

He loved fishing and thoroughly enjoyed working with wood. His father was a cabinet maker and passed on the woodworking skills. Carl enjoyed nature of all kinds and nurtured gardens of vegetables and flowers. He had exceptional skill in raising African violets and would have over a hundred plants growing at different stages so he could give the blooming violets to friends and for church activities. People will remember him for his strong faith in God and his genuine love of people, nature, and singing.

Carl is survived by his only child, Eileen “Sunnie” (O.D. III “Buzz”) Drake of Crystal Lake; three grandchildren, O.D. “Todd” (Cindy) Drake IV of Algonquin, Tim (Heather) Drake of Plainfield, and Alice (Jason) Reter of Sterling; eight great-grandchildren, Ashley Lauren Drake, Lindsay Anne Drake, O.D. “Jack” Drake V, Kristin Cavey Drake, Kira Eileen Drake, Ellen Joy Reter, Maya Elizabeth Sundquist Reter, and Walter Carl Reter; and a brother-in-law Guy (Maria) Eklund of Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen of 65 years, and his sister Ida (Ken) Strand.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday September 22 at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake. The visitation will continue from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10 a.m. on Friday September 23 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 178 McHenry Ave, Crystal Lake. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at Irving Park Cemetery, 7777 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his name may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church scholarship fund.