Mass of Christian Burial
St. Peter's Catholic Church-
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Email Details
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1405 Sibley Memorial Highway
Saint Paul, MN 55150
Carl Richard Simmons
May 3, 1938 — January 29, 2021
Carl Richard Simmons
Carl Richard Simmons, Sr. passed away unexpectedly on January 29, 2021 in Orange Beach, AL at the age of 82. He was born 3 May, 1938 in Hannibal, MO and was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Burk Simmons and Mary Elizabeth Montgomery Simmons of Monroe City, MO. Carl is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marilyn “Meme” and two sons, Christopher (Jane), of St. Paul, MN. and Carl, Jr. “Charlie” (Sandy LaMendola), also of St. Paul, his four grandchildren, (Natalie, Olivia, Alexander and Marcus) and two step-grandchildren, (Natalie and Zachary), his brother Ed Simmons (Angela), his sister Sue Thomas (John), and many nieces and nephews.
Carl graduated from Holy Rosary High School in Monroe City, MO. in 1956 and 4 years later the University of Missouri where he received a degree in Civil Engineering and completed 4 years of Air Force ROTC, reaching the rank of Cadet Colonel. After graduation, Carl worked for Boeing in Seattle, WA, until he enlisted in the Air Force in June, 1961. At Williams AFB, Arizona he began pilot training and earned his wings in June, 1962. He served a two year stint in Japan where he flew reconnaissance aircraft. He left the Air Force in January, 1967 with the rank of Captain, and took a job as a pilot with Northwest Airlines (NWA).
In the summer of 1968, while on a trip to Miami, FL, Carl met a Northwest stewardess by the name Marilyn McKusick of Olivia, MN. They were married on 31 May, 1969 and made St. Paul their home. Carl retired from NWA in May 1998.
Carl’s relentless work ethic and love of flying saw him retire and “unretire”, as he called it, three times over the next 15 years, working again for NWA and then Delta as a simulator instructor and check pilot, training the next generation of 747-400 pilots. He flew for the final time in June 2013. During his retirement(s), Carl enjoyed playing golf with his wife and friends, researching family history, designing and building stained glass windows, and acting as a docent at the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Church St. Peter. He was as a member of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem with the rank of Knight Commander.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of St. Peter, 1405 Sibley Memorial Hwy. 13, Mendota, MN. 55150, on Friday, February 12 at 11:00 AM. The funeral will be live-streamed via Facebook at Jane McCracken Simmons Facebook page, or https://msngr.com/rrruaxoafadn “Carl Simmons Funeral”. Private interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Cathedral Heritage Foundation, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN. 55012, or the memorial of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carl Richard Simmons, please visit our flower store.
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