Carl Arthur Steffens

Carl Arthur Steffens died peacefully with family at his side at his home in San Diego, CA, on October 26, 2026 at the age of 90. In January 2026, he celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends.

Carl was born in San Diego in 1936 to Charles and Orpha Steffens. After graduating from San Diego High School in 1953, he served in the United States Army for two years. His work in a public library had started in 1952, so this was his official first year as a City of San Diego Employee. Upon his discharge from the military, he resumed working for the City and attended San Diego State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering in 1969. He worked for the City of San Diego as a Civil Engineer, where he led teams that helped with the layout of the city’s water, sewer, and street systems. Carl retired in 1991 after nearly 40 years of service. He maintained his freelance business in land surveying, where he served many clients over 40 years, well until his 70s. This helped keep him fit and in good health.

Carl is survived by three children, David Steffens (of Milford, CT), Carol Woodrum (of Richmond VA), and Elisabeth Clark (of Alexandria, VA), all from a former marriage to Diane Coulter. He is also survived by six grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and Jeff Wilkins, the grandson of his second wife, Yvonne Osborn. He was preceded in death by Yvonne (to whom he had been married for 33 years), three sisters, and Yvonne’s two children.

Carl was a big fan of San Diego State Aztec football, and he was a season ticket holder for over 30 years. He enjoyed traveling and telling stories of his trips around the U.S., Canada, Guatemala, and Mexico, with special memories of vacations to Europe, the U.S.S.R., and Panama. He was also familiar with the streets of Tijuana, having made many trips there over 50 years, starting as a teenager. Particularly meaningful to him was a 2015 trip to Eggersmühlen, Germany, to visit the farm/mill from where his grandparents and father (age 4) emigrated to the U.S. in 1879. He enjoyed gardening, making persimmon cookies, and was a member of the California Rare Fruit Grower’s Society in his later years.

Carl loved Mexican food, and he signed himself and his 13-year-old daughter up for Sra. Elena Cota’s Adult Ed cooking classes. They made lots of tortillas that weren’t always round, but were still delicious.

Carl will be remembered as smart, laid back and generous with friends, detail-oriented with work, a bit of a pack rat, and having a wry sense of humor. When asked what he loved to do, he mentioned “listening to all kinds of music and driving anywhere.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be paid in Carl’s memory to a charity of your choosing.

Carl will be laid to rest at Miramar Nat’l. Cemetery, CA, columbarium. No service is planned at this time.