Jeff Carlin, age 62, of Fosston, MN, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23rd, under care of hospice, at Essentia Hospital in Fosston with his loving family by his side. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Peter Lurvey officiating. Interment will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Saturday (May 2nd) at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Jeffrey Paul Carlin was born December 29, 1963, the youngest of three, to parents Gary and Berniece (Brekke) Carlin in Fosston, MN. He was baptized, confirmed, and a lifelong member of Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston, and graduated from Fosston High School with the Class of 1982, where he was active in sports and hi-jinx in band.

After high school, Jeff made his home in the Fosston area and built a beautiful family with his loving companion and wife of 40 years, Jackie Arnold. In his early years, he worked at Robertson Lumber Company, then for his father and uncle at Carlin Furniture Store and Carlin Funeral Home. While at the furniture store, he learned to lay floor covering and went on to do many floor covering jobs. At that same time, he also began grave digging for the family funeral business, starting in the 1980’s with back breaking hand digging, evolving into precision excavation with backhoe machinery. Over the years, either in below zero cold, snow, rain, or shine, Jeff dug many thousands of graves, not only for the Carlin Funeral Home, but for other area funeral homes as well, quietly helping countless grieving family members in their greatest time of need.

Jeff was a “Free Spirit” who did things his way! He loved animals, especially dogs, he loved the outdoors, deer hunting and fishing with his daughters, and cabin time at Lake Bemidji with therapeutic swimming. He especially loved being with his family and his three young grandchildren.

Jeff was a deep thinker, always researching for information regarding the latest health supplements and trends. He was caring, kind and generous, and will be deeply missed by his family and all those who knew him.

During his courageous battle with cancer, Jeff said, “I’m not throwing in the towel”... and he never did, he always had hope.

But God had plans for Jeff, and took him home on Thursday, April 23, 2026, while surrounded by his loving family, and under the care of hospice, at the age of 62 years, three months, and 25 days.

Survivors include his wife Jackie; two daughters, Kailey Jacobson and her husband Kory of Fosston, and Kelsey Blazek and her husband Kaven of Bagley, MN; one toddler grandson, Bryson Blazek; two infant granddaughters, Olivia Jacobson and Brynlee Blazek; his mother, Berniece Carlin of Fosston; one sister, Kim Roysland and her husband Mike of Fosston; one brother, John and his wife Cathy of Fosston; foreign exchange student brother, Jean-Luc Hofman and his wife Isabelle of Belgium; uncle and aunts, Bud and Joan Brekke of Edmore, ND, Barbara Carlin of Fosston, and Ida Carlin of Martinez, CA; mother-in-law, Linda Arnold of Blackduck, MN; sisters-in-law, Connie Arnold of Fosston, Jennifer Bonfigli and husband Travis of Odenton, MD, and Lori Arnold and special friend, Pete Nelson of Fosston; as well as nieces, nephews, great niece, great nephews, cousins, and special much loved granddog, Ava.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gary; his grandparents, Alice and Hilding Carlin, and Margaret and Carl Brekke; uncles, David Carlin and Mark Carlin; father-in-law, Richard Arnold; sister-in-law, Carol Arnold; and nephew, Trandem Kappedal.

Blessed be his memory