Gordon Chester Carlson of Bemidji passed away Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth from complications of COVID. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Gordon, age 78, was born in Bemidji on February 3, 1943, to Victor and Agnes (Paulson) Carlson. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, July 6, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji. Funeral service will be on Wednesday, July 7 at 11:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 29th Street NE, Bemidji, MN 56601. He attended Bemidji Public Schools graduating in 1962, and Thief River Vocational Technical School. He worked tirelessly, in an effort to make a good living and support his family. He was a loyal and valuable employee, with extended careers at Nu-Ply, Superwood, Georgia Pacific, Northland Fishing Tackle, and Dedicated Tech. He never missed a day of work battling through dust and heat, weather, midnight shifts, supervision issues, and even labor disputes and strikes. Gordy was an example of what love and commitment to a marriage and a family should look like. He married his high school sweetheart Vicki Lynn Gulsvig at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji in September 1965. He was a fantastic husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, and brother. He loved his family dearly and was very proud of them. Gordy will always be remembered for his dedication to family, friends, neighbors, fellow workers, and anyone else that needed a handshake, a pat on the back, a word of encouragement, good advice, or a hand on a project. He influenced and enhanced the quality of many lives with his unconditional and genuine friendship. He taught life lessons by his actions, attitude, body language, and good deeds. Gordy had a huge passion to hunt and fish, and was an expert at both. He was well known to share and teach his knowledge and skill to others, young and old alike. He especially enjoyed passing his passion to his sons and grandchildren. He was very committed to Take A Kid Fishing programs, and participated for 35 years. His vintage custom glass fishing boat has been legendary on Lake Bemidji and surrounding lakes for many decades. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Doris Gulsvig, sister-in-law Sandra Verke, and other grandparents and relatives. He is survived by his wife Vicki, sons Scott (Kim Hadrava) of Bemidji and Chad (Kerri Hanevold) of Barnum; grandchildren Kaitlyn (Kyle) Johnson, Seth (Lauren Larson), Josh (Mariah), Ryan, Elise, Anna, and Thomas Carlson and step-grandson Zack (Jarica) Glime. Great grandchildren include Lilly and Nathan Johnson, Bentley Carlson, Berkley and Ryker Glime and another great grandson due in October. He is also survived by his brother Norman (Margo) , sister Mary Ann Mattison , brother and sister-in-laws Brent and Patty Gulsvig, Dave and Diane Hanson, Ed Verke and other relatives. He is also survived by a special group of Long Lake Classic fishing friends, with whom he has fished for nearly 50 years. Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.