Glenn G. Karlen

Glenn Gerhard Karlen, 85, tragically passed away in a biking accident in Punta Gorda, Florida, on July 29, 2025. Born on June 15, 1940, and raised in Minnesota, Glenn graduated from Denfeld High School in 1958. He went on to lead a dynamic and accomplished life filled with work and family.

Glenn married the love of his life, Ursula Thompson, on June 25, 1960. Their 65-year union was a true partnership, a blend of devotion and determination that became the foundation for their successful business ventures and large, joyful family.

Anchored by strong faith, Glenn lived with purpose. As an architectural draftsman, entrepreneur, and general contractor working in Minnesota and Florida, Glenn left his mark wherever he was. In the heart of Blaine, Minnesota, his legacy is in the car washes he built, the brushstrokes of a miniature golf course that brought happiness and laughter, and in the solid craftsmanship of custom homes that sheltered dreams. He built public spaces at the University of Minnesota, Johnsville Elementary, White Bear Lake, and numerous other park buildings in Anoka County. Homes in Punta Gorda, Florida, felt the hum of his ambition as surely as the Minnesota landscape he helped shape.

His entrepreneurial spirit wasn’t driven by profit alone, but by a deep-seated need to build, strategize, and create. He relished a good deal, thrived in negotiation, and enjoyed a challenge. Even hunched over a board game with grandkids, he played to win with wit, instinct, and a twinkle in his eye. A man of steady hands and a tender heart, Glenn took the most delight in time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, whom he cherished endlessly.

Glenn was forever in motion. Whether gliding along the water in a boat, gripping a 9-iron on the fairway, or coasting down a trail on his bike, Glenn found exhilaration in movement. And when he traded tires for wings as a licensed pilot, he learned to read the clouds and ride the breeze, ever drawn to the next adventure. Even a month before his passing, he and Ursula climbed into the RV and crossed the country, proving that his spirit never tired and his wonder never waned.

He leaves a legacy of strength, craftsmanship, and most importantly, a devoted family with enduring memories of a man who loved them deeply.

He is survived by his children, Cheryl Morin (Jim), Jane Walsh (Simon), Richard Karlen (Sally), and Dean Karlen (Martha); and by his beloved grandchildren, Jennifer Windom (Chris Latham), Lisa Windom, David Windom (Carlie), Reagan Morin, Dawson Morin, Mahon Walsh, Declan Walsh, John Karlen (Theanna), Katarina Stark (Cain), Robert Karlen (Callie), Madeline Kelley (Michael), Parker Karlen, Evan Karlen, Spencer Karlen, Benjamin Sepulveda, and Stephen Sepulveda. He was blessed to know his great-grandchildren, Isabel Latham, Ezekiel Latham, Bonnie Rose Harris, and Ayla June Karlen. Glenn is also survived by his siblings Joan Anderson, Marilyn Bodell, and Ronald Karlen (Judy), as well as many dear nieces and nephews.

Though his tools may be set down now and his journey complete, Glenn’s family knows his story continues in every life he helped shape. May the winds he flew and the waves he rode carry him gently home.

Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM Thursday, August 14 at ST. JOSEPH OF THE LAKES CATHOLIC CHURCH, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes. Visitation 4-7 PM Wednesday, August 13 at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME-LINO LAKES, 7050 Lake Dr. and from 10-11 AM Thursday at the church. Interment St. Joseph's Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda, FL, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent DePaul.

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