Carlsson

The Rev. Dr. Andrew E. Carlsson, formerly of Overbrook Pointe, Mars, died Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

He was born April 14, 1936, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Nils and Helen Carlsson.

He is survived by Marilou Nicklas, companion and caregiver later in his life; and five children, Mark (Marcie) Carlsson of Butler, Peter Carlsson of Butler, Jennifer (Richard) Bartek of Cranberry Township, Linda (Gary) Bryce of South Park, Pa., and Kristin (Greg) Hassler of Quakertown, Pa. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Donna L. Carlsson; and brothers, Lloyd Carlsson and Ron Carlsson.

Andrew graduated from Carthage College, Carthage, Ill., in 1957, and from Chicago Lutheran Seminary (now LSTC) in 1960. He completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2009 from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (LTSP).

Pastor Carlsson served Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations in Texas and Western Pennsylvania over a span of 28 years, including the congregations of Trinity Lutheran church in McKean, St. Peter’s Lutheran church in Evans City, and lastly, Tabor Evangelical Lutheran church in Kane, Pa., from 1973 until 1988. He also was the residential director of Bethesda Children’s Home in Meadville, Pa., from 1969 to 1973.

Andrew Carlsson was called to intentional interim ministry in 1988 by the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA. In 1990, he founded Seed Sower Ministries and developed lay leadership training workshops as well as becoming a leader of the Interim Ministry Network (IMN) in Baltimore.

In 1994, he was co-founder of the National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP) and became one of its faculty members and wrote its manuals and workbooks. He has served over two dozen congregations as an intentional interim pastor and interim consultant as well as consultant to several denominational judicatories for interim ministry throughout the United States. He retired from active ministry in 2014 and moved to the St. John Community campus, Overbrook Pointe, Mars.

Andrew had a number of hobbies and outside interests including his family as well as woodworking and traveling. He was a proud, avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. He and his family spent many summers boating on the Allegheny River and hiking in the National Forest.

CARLSSON — Visitation for the Rev. Dr. Andrew E. Carlsson, who died Tuesday, March 25, 2025, will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the funeral service at 11 a.m., followed by a private luncheon, Friday, May 2, 2025, at Perry Highway Lutheran Church, 11403 Perry Highway, Wexford.

Memorials may be made to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA.

Arrangements are under the direction of MCDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars.

Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.