Carl J Landness
April 22, 1951 - September 29, 2020
Obituary
MADISON - Carl J. Landsness, age 69, passed away at his home, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. He was a Madison native, born on April 22, 1951, to Clarence and Arlene Landsness.
Carl graduated from Madison East High School in 1969, valedictorian of his class. He attained the highest rank of Eagle Scout. He went on to earn his BS degree in 1973 in Electrical Engineering at UW-Madison where he and Mike Leckrone shared their first year together in the UW Marching Band. He was also very active in Hoofers’ Outing Club. Carl married Mary Frances Longley in 1973 and moved to California where he started his career of 22 years with Hewlett-Packard. While there, he earned his Master’s in Electrical Engineering at Stanford. When HP opened their new facility in Corvallis, Ore., Carl and ‘Fran’ moved there where Carl was instrumental in the development of the Inkjet printer. Carl and Fran had two children, Eric and Monica. Carl was a person of intensity, whether it was his work, sports or fun. He loved his kayaking, snow skiing, bicycling and won first place in the Oregon Pole Pedal Paddle. Carl and Fran divorced in 1993. While previously struggling with mental health, Carl had his first crash into a deep depression.
Over the ensuing years, he traveled, living for a while in Flagstaff, Ariz., as well as in the famous Rubel Castle in Glendora, Calif. (prior to it becoming a museum), making close and lifelong friends along the way, before being drawn back to his hometown of Madison. Upon returning to Madison in 2002, Carl spent his time invested in making his community better, deeply connecting with so many others who shared his beliefs and values. He was a political activist, working with alders and police, co-chair with Friends of Starkweather Creek, involved with the Goodman Community Center, many dance circles, religious communities, choirs, Olbrich Gardens and festivals and The Center for Non-Violent Communication. Carl wanted to make the world better.
Carl deeply valued his friendships that he made in all his activities. His friends speak warmly of his compassion, support, kindness, listening, generosity, and deep commitment. Many lives were deeply touched by all he gave to them in his joy, playfulness, zest and love of life, as well as service. There was a lot of laughter, enjoyment and goofiness had by all. He loved Madison, especially “The People’s Temple” (the Wisconsin State Capitol), as he called it, where he facilitated small group tours of the entire building.
Carl continued to struggle on and off with bouts of depression. These pre-COVID activities are what helped maintain Carl’s mental health and well-being. He loved to take his now 101-year-old mother on outings all over the city, where together they enjoyed exploring and keeping up with all the city’s changes. Since COVID-19 and the inherent shutdown of all social activities, Carl lost his community connection and purpose. He became cut off from his large support group of loving friends and family who tried to look in on him and keep his body nourished, but it didn’t stop the inevitable slide into depression. He found himself unable to eat, became weak and was later found by dear friends in his bed, having died of natural causes. One of Carl’s friends summed it up best saying “Carl valued his freedom more than his life.” With COVID, he lost his choices and his freedom. Carl had a BIG brain and even BIGGER heart, and he will be missed by many. He accomplished his goal of leaving the world and many lives better because he was here. All who knew him, have never forgotten “Carl Stories,” where you shake your head in disbelief or roar in laughter.
Carl was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Landsness. He is survived by his 101-year-old mother, Arlene Brunsell; son, Eric (Mebbie) Landsness; daughter, Monica (Gordon) Sansaver; four granddaughters, Emma and Rachel Landsness and Lily and Mia Sansaver; his sister, Cathy (Rick Nevill) Arends; brother, Larry (Annette) Landsness; and nieces Lisa, Lindsay and Abigail.
A 24-hr sacred fire vigil was held in his honor with his many friends coming together from all of the groups he was involved with. A private family gathering will be held at a future date.
Memorials can be made in Carl’s honor to The Center For Nonviolent Communication at https://www.cnvc.org/catalog/donations-0 or Friends of Starkweather Creek at https://starkweatherfriends.org/membership/ Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
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Memories
DG
Dick Gundlach
Other •
I am truly sad to learn that Carl died. Carl contacted me after he returned to Madison and we met and talked about our lives and his depression. I regret I didn't nurture our relationship after that meeting. My fondest memories are our love for instrumental music and rhe basketball games in the driveway and the gallons of root beer we drank during and after. Rest in Peace my friend.
SS
Scott Springman
Other •
Carl and I had a great time in High School. When he came back to Madison and he was just coming out of one of his depressive spells, we went on bike rides and he shared with me some of his life and struggles out in the Northwest. Carl was a noble free-spirit, and he always did life his own way. We will always remember you, Carl, and I hope your afterlife is free of the demons that periodically caused you unhappiness in this World. We will try to carry on your message of kindness and understanding.
JS
Judy Skog
Other •
I met Carl when he moved back to Madison. He was involved somewhat with the City Repair Project in its iteration in Madison. I also spent some time with him in the Peoples' Temple toning for love and healing on the upper floors.
KS
Kim Schoenhaar
Other •
Carl was a great friend of mine. My daughter, Kristi, and I knew him primarily through free form dance events. Whenever we met at these venues, we would inevitably end up dancing together. Carl liked to mirror our movements, which was really fun. Carl and I were both big hams, sharing a goofy sense of humor, and our dramatic, campy dances would end with us collapsing into helpless giggles of delight. Carl often thanked Kristi and I for these dances. He would say that they brought him out of a dark mood, or gave him some energy after an exhausting day spent trying to bring minds and hearts together at civic events. I always admired his activism, which he was committed to despite how hard it was for him to endure these events emotionally.
Carl also was generous in personal ways. When he learned that Kristi and I loved to sing, he invited us to audition for an improvisational singing group that he thought we would enjoy. Even though auditions were closed, he pulled a few strings, and we were able to audition and join this group, giving us yet another opportunity to improvise and play with Carl.
I have fibromyalgia, and had a particularly bad bought of pain a few years ago. I was at the Willy Street Co-op, and having a hard time completing my shopping task due to extreme levels of pain. I slumped down in a chair at one of the few tables in the dining area of the store, head in my hands, trying to will myself to complete my shopping errand. I looked up, and saw Carl at a table next to mine. He joined me at my table to chat. I started to blubber, telling Carl my dilemma. Carl held my hand, and told me stories about his successes, as well as his own struggles over the years with physical and emotional pain. Then, suddenly, he said, "Look, I have to leave in about 10 minutes, but I want you to do this; take your cart and fill it with whatever you want, and meet me at the cash register in ten minutes. Please let me pay".
That act of kindness helped me power my way through the pain to do what I needed to do, I was so touched.
Thank you for this opportunity to tell my story about my dear friend. He will be missed. May he Rest In Peace,.
JH
Jerry Haugen
Other •
A couple of days ago Carl's dad came to visit me in a dream. We discussed the basketball games in the driveway and one event . He paced off from the front of the garage under the hoop. Then, with both hands on the ball and his back to the hoop took an overhead shot that swished the basket. The definition of a memorable experience for me - that was more than 50 years ago. Carl's dad was blind. That dream led me to check up on Carl to see what he was up to when I came across his obituary.
If I remember correctly, Carl and I met at a Boy Scout winter Klondike event and immediately hit it off. We were around 12 then. Later we both played in the band in junior and senior high school at Madison East. We were both also on the swim team where Carl's breast stroke was quite impressive. In our senior year, I remember riding along one night as Carl drove around Capital Square. Carl shouted with great abandon at the girls he saw, creating much hilarity. Carl was also the school photographer and shot most of the photos in at least a couple yearbooks.
Carl talked me into auditioning for the UW Marching Band. I was accepted, to my surprise. I participated together for three years,while Carl continued for a fourth year. We were also in the pep band. We played at many football, basketball and hockey games over those years. Carl was fond of leading raucous cheers at hockey games. The pep band got in minor trouble over a couple of those cheers. I guess "blood makes the ice nice" wasn't appropriate. We both avoided the Viet Nam war. We had student deferments and high enough draft numbers.
Since college I crossed paths with Carl a few times. I was working on a master's degree in 1983 at Oregon State, in Corvallis, where Carl was at the time. One evening I was swimming laps in the college pool when one of my awkward turns led to a gash in my heel. Carl came to my rescue and got me to a doctor that sewed me up. During that time, Carl and Fran took me on a canoe trip and I bicycled with him, at least once, that I recall. I was almost able to keep up with him.
Later, It must have been around 1990, my fiance and I were in Los Angeles visiting her mother. We met up with Carl and spent a night at the Rubel Castle. An odd, fascinating, and, of course, memorable experience.
A few years later, Carl visited us in Klamath Falls, Oregon. I remember talking about his ink jet printer work at Hewlett Packard. He had some great ideas for printer improvements. He bemoaned having no lab or other way to bring them to fruition. Carl may have been able to get a professorship and lab at Oregon Institute of Technology. As far as I know, he didn't follow up on that notion.
I wasn't privy to Carl's major depressive issues - most of that occured after I last saw him.
Like others that knew him, Carl was an undforgettable light in my life . Rest in peace Carl . Feel free to visit me in a dream.