Carlsen, Elmer Walter "Dick" 1897 - 1947

CARLSEN, MILLER, MILESTONE, JENSEN, FLINDT

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/23/2023 at 00:52:53

Clayton County Register, 11 Dec. 1947.

Funeral services for E. W. Carlsen, 50, member of the State Board of Control and former Clayton county Sheriff, were held Friday afternoon, Dec. 05, at 1:30 at the Witt funeral chapel and at 2 o'clock at the Peace Evangelical and Reformed church, the Rev. Paul Kitterer officiating. Burial was in the East Side cemetery, with the Masonic lodge in charge of the services at the grave.

Elmer Walter Carlsen, known to his friends as Dick, was born on a farm in LaFayette county, Wis., Sept. 23, 1897, the youngest child of Hans and Caroline Carlsen. He died Dec. 02, 1947, at 5:00 a.m. at Finley hospital, Dubuque, where he had been a patient since Nov. 15. The immediate cause of his death was Pneumonia.

Upon completing his rural school education he graduated from the Darlington, Wis., high school and the University of Wisconsin. His law-enforcement education consisted of graduation from the National Academy FBI, Washington, D.C., and the Institute of Applied Science, Chicago, Ill.

He was married to Greta Jane Miller of Elkader, at Pasadena, Calif., and she, together with one daughter, Mary Jane, survives.

During the early years after completing his education, he was in the securities and investment business, operating a branch office for the Interstate Finance corporation of Dubuque, as well as operating his own business known as the E. W. Carlsen insurance agency.

He was a Republican and active in the affairs of his party. He was elected to four terms as sheriff, resigning from that office to accept the appointment by Gov. Robert D. Blue to the State Board of Control July 01, 1945, which appointment he was serving at the time of his death.

Mr. Carlsen was active in the affairs of the community. He served as a town councilman for several terms; was active in Boy Scout movement, serving as district commissioner for several years; organized the county for defense during the war; served as county chairman of the Red Cross first aid program, and participated in many other civic activities.

He was a member of many organizations, some of which are as follows: Phi Chi fraternity; Elkader Lodge No. 72 A. F. and A. M., De Molay Consistory, Clinton; El-Kahir Temple and Embassy club, Cedar Rapids; B. P. O. Elks, Dubuque, National Academy Associates FBI; Iowa State Sheriffs' association; American Prison association, Northeastern Iowa Peace officers' association; Iowa State Society for Mental Hygiene; Iowa Welfare association, and other local organizations. He was a member of the Peace Evangelical and Reformed church.

Surviving besides his wife and daughter are three sisters and three brothers; namely, Mrs. Mary Milestone, Darlington, Wis; Mrs. Clara Jensen, and Mrs. Lena Bruni Flindt, both of Argyle, Wis; John Carlsen, Blanchardville, Wis.; Martin Carlsen, Wilson, Wis., and James Carlsen, Madison, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Alvin.

Pallbearers were: H. L. Meyer, G. J. Graf, E. C. Bandow, E. J. Smith, Arthur J. Meyer and L. H. Bandow.

Honorary pallbearers were: E. Bergemeyer, Dubuque; W. W. Davidson, Adolph Benson and William Ryan, representing B. P. O. Elks, Dubuque.