Carl Gundlach

Carl Gundlach passed away on August 25, 2015 after a long illness. Born on July 20, 1952, in Torrington, he was the son of Heinz, Sr. and Helen Gundlach. He attended local schools and was a graduate of Northwestern Regional #7.

Carl Gundlach, when he was Norfolk’s Zoning Enforcement Officer.

In 1974, he married Colleen Sullivan and began a dance that would last 41 years.  They raised two wonderful sons, Kevin Gundlach, now of Torrington, and Kurt Gundlach, of Norfolk, who gave them three amazing grandchildren, Gunther Kevin Gundlach, Ilona Colleen Gundlach and Noah Kurt Gundlach. These children and grandchildren were the lights of his life and his favorite companions.

Carl was a multi-talented person who could do just about anything.  From restoring old cars to repairing new ones to carpentry to logging, then on to land use enforcement and real estate, he always loved a new challenge. He was the go-to person for questions and problems and he always seemed to be able to figure them out effortlessly. He even built, board by board himself, the home in which he raised his family.

He worked many places over the years, including South Norfolk Lumber, Northwest Cable Television, Leifert Automotive, Abate Enterprises and Jimmy Martin Trucking. But the job of which he was most proud was that of Land Use Administrator for the Town of Norfolk. For many years he served as both the zoning and wetlands enforcement officer for the town where he was respected for his even-handedness and adherence to the rules. He later earned his real estate license and became a realtor with Coldwell Banker Bredice and Dean, then Sullivan Realty and finally with Mary Stevens Realty.

Carl was a selectman for the Town of Norfolk for three terms and was influential in initiating many changes that are still part of the town today, including removal of the Brick Block after the fire there and restructuring of that area near Route 44. He served more than 15 years on the Norfolk Planning & Zoning Commission, 10 of which were as its chairman.  He was also a Justice of the Peace and performed many marriage ceremonies.

A proud Republican, Carl served for many years as Chairman of the Norfolk Republican Town Committee, a seat he still held at the time of his death.

In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Carl is survived by his brothers Henry Gundlach, Heinz Gundlach, Jr. and Eric Gundlach and his sister JoAnn Gundlach, all of Norfolk, and by his best friend and driving companion, Paul Okraska of Torrington.  He was predeceased by a sister, Brenda Gundlach.

The funeral was held on August 29 at the Second Congregational Church in Winsted, and the burial was in South Norfolk Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Norfolk Republican Town Committee, PO Box 284, Norfolk; or the Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance, 7 Shepard Road, Norfolk.
Photo by Bruce Frisch.