CARLSON, Carl John 1879-1959

CARLSON, JANSON

Posted By: Darla Richardson Donovan (email)
Date: 4/15/2011 at 17:39:39

Carl John Carlson was born September 10, 1879, on a farm in Sweden. He was baptized in infancy and confirmed at the age of fifteen in the Lutheran Church. He came to the United States in 1902, living in Renova, Minnesota, and working as a section hand on the railroad.

On September 6, 1905, Mr. Carlson was married to Anna Sofia Janson, who had been a school chum in Sweden from the time he was twelve years old. They started life together in Elkton, Minnesota, where he had become a foreman. To this union were born five sons: Herbert C. who died in childhood; Arthur E. of Riceville, Iowa; Clarence B. who died in childhood; Paul H. of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Kenneth J. of Seattle, Washington.

The Carlsons moved to Riceville in 1909. He was naturalized an American citizen in Cresco, December 4, 1917. In 1933 they moved to McIntire, and in 1942 moved back to Riceville when Mr. Carlson retired. They became members of Riceville Methodist Church in 1946.

After a brief illness requiring surgery, Mr. Carlson died at 7:20 a.m. November 3, 1959, at Cedar Valley Hospital in Charles City less than two months after his 80th birthday. HIs survivors included his wife Anna; three sons Arthur, Paul and Kenneth; one brother in California, four grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. November 6 at Riceville Methodist Church, with the pastors, Rev. Luella G. Koether and Rev. T. Janet Surdam, officiating. Mrs. Aldis Dunton and Miss Surdam sang "Crossing the Bar" and "Rock of Ages", accompanied by Miss Linda Kubicek, church pianist. Pallbearers were Ole Wyatt, Lester Patterson, Don Weaver, Raymond Richardson, Harry Wallace and Leo Wallace.

After graveside services at Riverside Cemetery, Riceville, the Woman's Soicety of Christian Service served lunch for relatives and friends in the church dining room.

(This obituary was in my grandmother Anna Matson Richardson's scrapbook. Newspaper unknown.)