Carl Joseph Elze

Carl Joseph Elze, age 101 years, passed away on August 5, 2026 in Santa Rosa, California surrounded by his seven loving children.

Carl was born in San Pedro, California to Karl F. Elze, a longshoreman and naturalized American citizen from Germany, and Martha Mary Fromlath Elze, a teacher from North Dakota.

He attended San Pedro schools where he was promoted two grades ahead of his class due to his brilliance, and his six-foot-four-inch height. He graduated from San Pedro High School at age 16 in 1941. When he turned 17 shortly after Pearl Harbor, Carl had his mother sign a waiver allowing him to enlist in the U.S. Navy to fight for his country. In the Navy he trained as an aircraft mechanic, a path he followed after the war when he was hired by Pan American World Airways in San Francisco. It was during that time in Burlingame California that Carl met and married Mary Jean Slaughter with whom he started his large and happy family. Carl's 38-year career at Pan Am began when he was hired as an aircraft instrument mechanic. While employed he took night courses offered by Pan Am and earned his pilot license and the title of Flight Engineer Officer. He eventually flew 747s all over the world, moving Mary Jean and his family to Hawaii and Germany in addition to his travels throughout the Pacific Region.

Music was important to Carl throughout his life. He played violin in the San Pedro High School orchestra and band. In retirement, Carl learned to play the tuba and played for many years with the Healdsburg Community Band, the Russian River Ramblers Jazz Band and also with Lew Sbrana in the New Horizons Band. Carl taught his children to sing harmony which made for peaceful car rides when his family of nine were loaded in their station wagon.

Carl also earned many badges as a Boy Scout and he embraced all that the Boy Scouts had to offer. With so many children, tent camping was the preferred vacation for the Elze family and that tradition continues to this day with the annual Elze camping trip. His life was the embodiment of the Boy Scout Law and he modeled those attributes to his children.

Also in retirement the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club was an important part of Carl's service to his community. He cheerfully participated in the club's fundraising activities including the pancake breakfasts, the Fitch Mountain Footrace, Christmas tree sales and others.

Carl was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Mary Jean Elze. He is survived by his seven children and their spouses, Nancy Elze (Jill Scatchard), Suzan Mannisto (Dan), Marian Thibault (Andre), David Elze, John Elze (Sylvia), Rob Elze and Chris Elze (Margie Neeley). He also is survived by eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his sister, Marie Michell of San Pedro, and her children Patrick Michell (Felicia), Monica Michell Byars (Rick), Dian Andrews (Charles), Timothy Michell (Marta) and their children and grandchildren, the "Michelzes."

Carl's family is grateful to the caregivers and staff of Brookdale Paulin Creek for their attentive and patient care during the last years of Carl's life. The family is also grateful to the nurses and caregivers at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

Carl was the patriarch of his family and a presence for good in the lives of his children and in his community. He will be profoundly missed.

In lieu of flowers, Carl requested donations to the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club. Services will be private.

Published in Healdsburg Tribune · August 13, 2026