Carl Erik Ohlson

CARL ERIK OHLSON

It is with heavy hearts the family of Carl Erik Ohlson announce his peaceful passing on July 21st, 2020  at Woodstock General Hospital in his 82nd year, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Montreal in 1938, Carl graduated from Loyola College with a BSc. Civil Engineering (Concordia University) and went on to the University of Western Ontario (Ivey School of Business) to complete his MBA. It was in London, Ontario where he met and fell in love with his beloved wife, Nila Jean Ohlson (nee Black). Carl and Nila Jean were eventually married in 1962.

Over their 58 years of marriage, Carl’s career with Atlas Steels, Standard Tube and with his own business, Atlas Tube and Metal Sales had them moving a number of times with kids in tow. They resided in Toronto, Vancouver, Detroit, Cleveland, Niagara Falls and finally Woodstock, Ontario. Carl and Nila Jean also had a love for travel and over the years enjoyed travelling the world.

Carl had a love for sports throughout his life. He played football at Concordia University and was named to the Concordia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, with his friend Tom Lane, for the instrumental role they played in bringing the football program back in 1958. Carl also served as captain of the team.  In his adult years, he loved playing hockey, tennis, downhill skiing and golf and was a lifelong Habs fan.  Carl also loved to be cheering or coaching his kid’s sports activities. In 1986, he coached his daughters Bantam Girls soccer team, where they made it to the Canadian National Finals. Not only was he a great coach, but would help any teammate get a ride to a game or practice and mentored and supported them as young teens.  Carl then became inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame.

Carl’s grandson Olin wrote a school paper in 6th grade when his teacher prompted the class to write about their hero. Olin wrote, “My Grandpa has had Parkinson’s for a while, but still powers through. Though he won’t get any better, he is always knocking down barriers that try to stop him. My Grandpa might not be very strong on the outside, but on inside he is a world champion body builder! Not only that, he is always very positive and funny. My Grandpa shows me when things don’t go your way, there is always a brighter side. Always look at the glass as half full.

Carl was a wonderful father and grandfather and was most proud of his family.

Survived by his wife Nila Jean, daughters, Susan Ohlson, Debbie Wiseman (Jeff), Lori Neale (Rick) and grandchildren Maddie Wiseman, Kendra Vandecamp (Lucaas) , Brody Wiseman, Jasper Neale, Liam Neale, Olin Neale, as well as Carl’s sister’s Karin Mahoney and Brenda Ohlson.

A celebration of life will take place in the spring of 2021.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in honour of Carl are asked to consider the Woodstock General Hospital and may be arranged through the Brock and Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Ave., Woodstock ON (519-539-0004)