Harry A. Carlsen was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 9, 1927, to Harry and Bergljot Carlsen, who both came from Norway. He grew up in Brooklyn and attended Bethany Lutheran Church there. He was drafted into the US Army in 1945 and served in the US and Germany until discharged in 1948.
After having trained and worked as an electrician for several years like his father, he enrolled in the Lutheran Bible Institute in Teaneck, N.J. for the two-year Bible course, starting in 1956. He met Dorothy Helen Markussen at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church during that time and they married in June 1958, after which he enrolled at Concordia College, Moorehead, Minnesota, in preparation for the ministry.
Martha, their daughter, was born during the years at Concordia College. Harry graduated with honours in 1962. Then Harry entered The Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio to pursue his Bachelor of Divinity degree and prepare for his ordination. During the seminary year, their son, Jeffrey, was born. Harry was ordained in June 1965, upon which he accepted his first call - to St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church in Montreal.
Pastor Carlsen served St. Ansgar's Church until November 1967, when he accepted the call to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Levittown, N.Y. His ministry there extended to 1975, when he moved to Muskegon, Michigan to serve the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, until 1981.
In 1981 Pastor Carlsen left the parish ministry to become a nursing home administrator with the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and in 1982 he accepted the position of administrator at St. John's Good Samaritan Centre in Kearney, Nebraska, where he served until 1989.
Then he was called to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska (1989-1992). Pastor Carlsen then retired and became the Visitation Pastor and later the Interim Pastor at Apostles Lutheran Church in Brandon, Florida (between 1992 and1996). Then followed terms as Interim Pastor at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Plains, Georgia (1996-1998) and at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at Montgomery, Alabama (1998-2001) before his present term as Visitation Pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Columbus, Georgia.
Martha, their daughter, is now a teacher and her daughter is in her first year of College. Jeffrey, their son, is a career naval officer, a commander, stationed as a pilot and aeronautical engineer in Patuxtent Navel Air Station in Maryland. He and his wife have four children.
Harry Carlsen and his wife, Dorothy are now semi-retired and enjoy their hobbies. Dorothy enjoys weaving a variety of things. She has done some ecclesiastical weaving and has made several stoles for Harry. Some churches have also benefited from her skill and are proud to display several new altar hangings. Making felt hats is a new addition to her list of hobbies. Harry enjoys woodworking and has made some furniture for his family. He also likes to make jewelry boxes.
Pastor Carlsen's ministries left him with many memories of loving, caring people, joys and sorrows shared, as well as frustrations and happy times. His ministry to the aged has brought him satisfaction and fulfillment. Pastor Carlsen and his wife are proud of their children and grandchildren. The Lord has blessed them with good health through the years.