Earl Louis Obst

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Earl Louis Obst of Prospect, formerly of Plantsville. Earl died peacefully at Hartford Hospital on February 16, 2026 while surrounded in the love of his family.  He was born April 12, 1941 in Waterbury, the son of the late Louis and Ruth (Fassett) Obst.  Earl met and married the love of his life Marjorie (Coe) Obst in July of 1965.  For sixty blessed years, Earl considered himself the luckiest man in the world.

Earl loved his country and proudly served in the United States Air Force, in Morocco and England, during the Vietnam War.  Prior to his military service he earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, a distinction that shaped his dedication to leadership, community and integrity. As a youth he spent weekends and summers working on his uncle’s farm, Fassett’s Farm, where he met his future bride.  After his service, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Bridgeport.  As an accountant, he worked 30 years as a Fiscal Administrator for the State of Connecticut D.O.T. Many of those 30 years were also spent dedicating his time and talent to Plantsville Congregational Church as their Treasurer.

A true craftsman, Earl found joy and purpose in woodworking. The projects varied from building the cradle for his first born, one that each of his daughters and each grandson used, a new shed for the house and cottage, creating unique storage areas for his daughter’s dorm rooms and even an arbor for the rose garden.

He also had a deep love for gardening. From the first rose blooms in June to the final vegetable harvest in the fall he took pride in nurturing life from the soil. His love of gardening and numbers made serving as the treasurer of the Connecticut Rose Society a role he truly enjoyed for many years.

When it was time for snip-its of relaxation he enjoyed weekend trips to Borgata Casino where he could unwind, enjoy the atmosphere, swim in the pools and savor a bit of excitement. An enthusiastic card player, Earl rarely passed on an invite to a friendly game. Whether it was Setback every summer at the lake, Five Crown at home with family members, or most recently Setback at Regency or Canasta at the Prospect Senior Center, he taught us that cards weren’t just about winning - they were about laughter, storytelling, and the bonds formed across generations.

While recalling the highlights of his life with his family, Earl shared his four most cherished events:  getting married, having kids, having grandkids and traveling.  Family summers were spent on Bantam Lake, swimming, canoeing, and cooking blueberry pancakes over an open fire. During retirement Earl and Marge set out on travels across continents and cultures, turning places on a map into treasured memories. Some of his favorite trips included Australia, Greece, Italy, Switzerland and annual trips to Aruba. Beside travel abroad, Earl loved supporting his grandsons by traveling to as many of their basketball, football and baseball games as possible. From early morning games only an hour from home to late night games under the lights, up and down the east coast, he would bundle up in the cold or find shade on hot summer days. He celebrated every moment, from assists to homeruns, he was one of their biggest fans.

Earl leaves behind to mourn his loss besides his wife Marjorie, his daughters Tracey and her husband Fred Bonvicini of Torrington, Heather Karpiej and her husband Ken of Torrington and Gretchen Obst of Prospect, sisters Sylvia Clymer of NC and Linda Taschereau of Southington, three grandsons Benjamin, Matthew and his wife Emma and Joseph Bonvicini as well as many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends.

A Funeral Service will be celebrated for Earl on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:00 am at Plantsville Congregational Church, 109 Church Street, Plantsville followed by military honors.  Family and friends are kindly asked to meet directly at the Church.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 3 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Prospect Memorial/The Palmerie Family Funeral Home 122 Waterbury Rd. Prospect.  Prospect Memorial Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with all arrangements and invites you to share your favorite photos, memories and words of comfort on Earl’s tribute wall on this website.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, a charity near and dear to his heart. www.epilepsy.com

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