Carlson, Karen Sue (1938-1940)

CARLSON, SPECTH

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

Stanhope Observer, July 4, 1940

Karen Sue Carlson Drowned in Tank

The community was shocked on Saturday afternoon when it was learned that Karen Sue, 18 month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Carlson, living four miles southwest of Stanhope, had fallen into the galvanized water tank at their farm home and was drowned. She had wandered away from the other children who were playing in the yard and in trying to play in the water climbed up on the tank and fell in.

She was found by the hired man when he went to attend to chores about 4:45, and had been in the water probably from fifteen to thirty minutes. She was rushed to the Webster City hospital by her parents and the hired man and her father used artificial respiration on her on the way to the hospital where on arrival the doctors and nurses used a pulmotor for over an hour but the little life had gone on to its Maker.

Karen Sue is survived by her parents, two sisters and two brothers, her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Theo Carlson of Stanhope and Mr. and Mrs. Specth of Ames, besides several aunts and uncles. Chester and Clara have had much of sickness and worries for the past year and a half and now with this the greatest of sorrow they have the sympathy of the entire community and their host of friends.

Funeral services for little Karen were held at the paternal home on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Fosters in charge. Two beautifully sung numbers were given, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," by Mrs. Wm. Parker, and "His Jewels" by Mary Ann and Gretchen Parker. Rev. Schmidt gave his comforting sermon from II Samuel 12th chapter, when David had mourned for his son and then was given the promise that he too could go to his child in the heavenly realm and how heaven needs its little children and young folks as well as the aged.

Little Karen was born on Dec. 27, 1938, thus she was 18 months and two days old.

A large concourse of friends gathered at the home and graveside to show their sympathy to the bereaved parents in this great hour of sorrow. Pallbearers were four young ladies of the Plus Ultra class of the Christian church Sunday school, Misses Mavis Coats, La Von Wills, Betty Cottington and Helen Neese. Floral tributes were many and beautiful, and a sum of $8 was given for a memorial to missions for Karen.

Obituary
(By Rev. C.F. Schmidt)

Karen Carlson, born Dec. 27, 1938, concluded her brief lifespan of 18 month and 2 days on Saturday, June 29. How brief the time when numbered in days, and yet, how much of joy, of love, of smiles, of pain and anxiety are measured by these days.

How well we remember how near the valley and shadow the mother walked and how it was only by the expert care of doctors and nurses and the prayers of loved ones and friends that her life was spared.

But life is not rightly measured by days and years but rather by heart beats, by smiles, by deeds of love and by this measure little Karen has left her impress on the lives of all of us who knew and loved her.

She is not dead, the child of our affection,
But gone into that school
Where she has no longer needs our poor protection,
But Christ himself doth rule.

In that cloister's stillness and seclusion,
By guardian angels led,
Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution,
She lives, whom we call dead.
- Elliot.