1953
Carl
2020
Carl James Erlinger
February 3, 1953 — July 24, 2020
Veteran of the U.S. Army and longtime Funeral Director Carl J. Erlinger, born on February 3rd, 1953 in East. St. Louis, Illinois passed away peacefully on Friday, July 24th, 2020 in Tucson, Arizona. Husband of Mauricia Estela Erlinger living in Tucson, AZ; Father of Kelly Sonsoucie (Erlinger) and her husband John Sonsoucie living in Swansea, Illinois; Carl Christopher Erlinger and wife Alisha Erlinger living in Smithton, Illinois; Stepfather of Salvador Nava and his wife Mariela Gasca Lopez living in Fort Lupton, Colorado; Grandfather of Kennedy Sonsoucie and Nick Reimler of San Marcos, Texas and Allison Erlinger living in Smithton, Illinois, Kyle Erlinger living in Topeka, Kansas, and Andrew Nava Gasca living in Fort Lupton, Colorado. Carl had many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Carl was a kind and very honest man who cared and looked out for those who cared for him. He was a perfectionist when it came to himself and for other people and their families, He knew how to make them Laugh, Smile and feel comfortable in a way people felt safe. The pets he had through out the years he cared for them and was always buying them treats and making them feel like part of the family 365 days a year and they all loved him very much and protected him until his last moments.
Mr. Erlinger, in the 1970’s, was Co-owner of State-Way Ambulance Service. After many years, he decided to open Carl Erlinger Ambulance Service for 13 years. He attended Mortuary School at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis, Missouri. Obtained his MO Funeral Director License, he went to work at Alexander and Sons on Rock Road in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1984, he moved to Tucson, AZ and worked as a Funeral Director at East Lawn Mortuary Tucson SCT. In 1987, moved to Denver, Colorado and worked at the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary Unit 1. He opened his first funeral home, Avalon Funeral Home Lafayette CO, in 1987, and he opened his second funeral home, Erlinger Funeral & Cremation,located in Fort Lupton, CO. in 1998 and then opened Rose Cremation Society , Denver, CO. in 2018. He and his wife Estela opened Lopez Funeral Home, in Aurora Colorado.
In December 2018 He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer, he fought hard until his death. Even though at the end it was hard for him, he stayed strong and kept his mind positive and with good care he was able to be at peace.
Funeral Service will be at Valhalla -Gaerder-Holten Funeral home, 3412 Scott Parkway West, Belleville, Illinois on August 28th, 2020.
Carl was a kind and very honest man who cared and looked out for those who cared for him. He was a perfectionist when it came to himself and for other people and their families, He knew how to make them Laugh, Smile and feel comfortable in a way people felt safe. The pets he had through out the years he cared for them and was always buying them treats and making them feel like part of the family 365 days a year and they all loved him very much and protected him until his last moments.
Mr. Erlinger, in the 1970’s, was Co-owner of State-Way Ambulance Service. After many years, he decided to open Carl Erlinger Ambulance Service for 13 years. He attended Mortuary School at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis, Missouri. Obtained his MO Funeral Director License, he went to work at Alexander and Sons on Rock Road in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1984, he moved to Tucson, AZ and worked as a Funeral Director at East Lawn Mortuary Tucson SCT. In 1987, moved to Denver, Colorado and worked at the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary Unit 1. He opened his first funeral home, Avalon Funeral Home Lafayette CO, in 1987, and he opened his second funeral home, Erlinger Funeral & Cremation,located in Fort Lupton, CO. in 1998 and then opened Rose Cremation Society , Denver, CO. in 2018. He and his wife Estela opened Lopez Funeral Home, in Aurora Colorado.
In December 2018 He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer, he fought hard until his death. Even though at the end it was hard for him, he stayed strong and kept his mind positive and with good care he was able to be at peace.
Funeral Service will be at Valhalla -Gaerder-Holten Funeral home, 3412 Scott Parkway West, Belleville, Illinois on August 28th, 2020.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carl James Erlinger, please visit our flower store.
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