CARLSON, WIlliard Fabian

CARLSON, KLINGBORG, KAY, PITTS, LENZ, HERRMANN, ANDERSEN, FORD

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 4/30/2008 at 16:48:24

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Willard Fabian Carlson, 92, of Cherokee, passed away Friday, April 11, 2008 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday April 15th at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Jim Steen officiated. Burial was held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. There were military rites at the cemetery by L. A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W.

Willard was born Jan. 20, 1916 in Moline, Ill. to Gustav and Anna (Klingborg) Carlson. He was raised by Anton and Hilma Klingborg. He attended rural schools in Tilden Township, Cherokee Co. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army from March of 1941 with the 113th Calvary. His active duty included the Battle of the Bulge and the Normandy Invasion. He was a staff sergeant, being discharged in October of 1945. He was married to Evelyn P. Kay on Feb. 12, 1948 in the St. John's Lutheran Parsonage at Storm Lake. Willard lived in Cherokee until 1972 when he moved to Longmont, Colo. where he resided until returning to Cherokee in 1988. Willard worked construction for Osterling Construction and Grundman-Hicks Construction Co. in Cherokee and Faith Construction Co. and KCI Construction Co. in Longmont, Colo., retiring in 1984. He was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was active with the property committee. He also enjoyed volunteering for the Meals on Wheels delivery. He loved woodworking, dancing, playing cards and time spent with his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his foster parents and special cousins Edith Pitts, Lilly Klingborg and Robert Klingborg.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn and four children: Jean Lenz and her husband Jerry of Loveland, Colo.; Patty Herrmann and her husband Mike of Norwalk; Barb Andersen of Norwalk; Dave Carlson of Berthoud, Colo.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one sister Elizabeth Carlson of Chicago, Ill., two brothers-in-law: Herbert and Joyce Kay of Holstein; Alvin and Donna Kay of Sioux City; two sisters-in-law: Irene Ford of Holstein; and Lorraine Kay of Holstein.