Kent Roy Carlander
Kent was born in Fargo, ND, and raised across the Red River in Moorhead, MN. Throughout his life he shared fond memories about growing up in this small midwestern town with his parents and four siblings and his lifelong friends. After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Augustana Seminary Rock Island. Kent was ordained in 1964 by the American Lutheran Church which later merged into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He soon accepted a dual ministerial call to rural Kensington and Lowry, MN.
After four years, the big city called to Kent and his first wife, Marilyn, so they moved to Chicago with their young children Todd and Molly, where Kent accepted a call to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church as associate pastor and as a community organizer. They welcomed their daughter Jenny in 1968. While there, Kent also earned a Master of Systematic Theology degree from The Lutheran School of Theology with an emphasis in science and religion. After Kent’s marriage sadly dissolved in 1980 he served as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church on the south side of Chicago and was a principal of an elementary school, jobs he held dearly.
Kent moved to Santa Barbara in 1990 where he worked as a case manager for Vida Nueva and for 10 years prior as a counselor at The Phoenix of Santa Barbara. There he met a fellow counselor, Karen Claydon. No one who worked with them would have ever imagined that they would start dating, much less get married and spend over 30 years together lovingly enriching each other’s lives.
Always willing to share his knowledge and interests, Kent taught varied subjects in many settings. As a writer, Kent made his progressive theological and political views known with his sermons, essays, cartoons and limericks in order to bring awareness to social justice issues.
A musician since childhood, Kent learned to play the banjo in Chicago where he formed a bar band made up of his ministry colleagues. He learned to play the fiddle at SBCC and had great fun playing with his weekly group. Kent couldn’t resist a new instrument and Karen couldn’t resist his happy sparkling blue eyes when she gifted him one, hence he learned to play over a dozen instruments, often teaching himself. He could also play tunes by blowing through his thumbs which he would teach to children and once played “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” at the request of Garrison Keillor.
Kent, the man perfectly content in the moment, surprisingly revealed a long wish list of things he wanted to do in his remaining life. His top three? Travel. Juggle while riding a unicycle. Marry a woman who would help him complete his list! Kent’s last wish was to die at home in Santa Barbara, in his own bed, surrounded by “music, love, peace and joy.” His wishes all came true. Kent will be remembered as being an always present and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and as a man who strived to live out God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Kent was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Agnes Carlander, his sisters Marlys Ingram (Jim) and Janet Brown, his brother Loren Carlander (Jeanette), and his dear daughter Molly McDermott. He is survived by his wife Karen Claydon, his brother John Carlander (Marilyn), his first wife Marilyn Jean Carlander and their children, Todd Carlander and Jenny Stoica (John) and his nine beloved Carlander/Stoica/McDermott grandchildren. Also, the Claydon children, Sage (Ray), Andrew (Jes) Timothy (Briana) and his eight beloved Claydon grandchildren, as well as his devoted in-laws, his many loving nieces and nephews and his foster son, Barry Hamilton.
A Memorial Liturgy for Kent will be celebrated on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1500 State Street, Santa Barbara. A reception will follow in the church hall. Parking is available at Welch-Ryce Haider 15 East Sola Street or in the public lots.
Memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Church Justice and Outreach Fund or The Parkinson’s Association of Santa Barbara in honor of Kent’s life.
