Constance Louise Carlson

CARLSON HOAG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 18:47:45

Woodbury County History 1984

Constance Louise Carlson
By Constance Louise Carlson

Constance ‘Connie’ was born October 20, 1932 in Sioux City, Iowa. She was the only child of Robert Edward and Wilma Aldys Strong Carlson.

She attended elementary school in Smithland and graduated valedictorian form Oto High School in 1951. While in Oto she played basketball in the eighth grade and all four years of High School. She was high scorer for Oto High School and chosen All-Conference Forward.

After receiving a two year elementary teaching certificate from Wayne State Teachers College, Connie was hired as a first grade teacher in the Sioux City Public Schools and taught six years at Washington School.

While teaching, Connie attended night school and summer school and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morningside College, graduating cum laude in 1956.

She carried on a four generation legacy by becoming a teacher. Her great-grandfather, Professor N E Palmer was Woodbury County Superintendent of Schools, and her mother and grandmother were also teachers.

Connie married Robert T Hoag, second son of Jack, Sr and Nellie Clancy Hoag, August 3, 1957, at the Congregational Church in Oto, Iowa.

Robert was a native of the Chicago, Illinois, area, having graduated from Fox Lake, Illinois, High School. He served as a sonar expert in the Second World War and alter attended the University of Iowa and Morningside College. He was employed by the Iowa Inspection Bureau in Des Moines and Sioux City. His family was famous in golf circles, and Bob was an excellent golfer.

In August of 1959, Connie was awarded a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Dakota.

Robert and Connie moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and later to Omaha, Nebraska, when Robert became employed by the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, as a fire engineer. Connie taught four years in Sioux Falls and two years in Westside Community School (District 66) Omaha, Nebraska, and Laurens, Iowa, school districts.

Robert Carlson Hoag was born June 20, 1965, in Omaha, Nebraska. The Hartford then transferred Robert to Minneapolis and the family moved to Burnsville, Minnesota. They then moved to Laurens, Iowa, where Robert became a partner in the Hawley Insurance Agency.

On June 16, 1973, Robert was accidently killed in a swimming pool accident at the Laurens pool.

On April 2, 1975, Connie and Leland John Hawley were united in marriage at high noon in the Laurens Methodist Church.

Leland is the son of Charles and Lela Jane Stover Hawley, and has four children by a previous marriage: Cynthia, Fred, Gloria (Mrs William Grice), and Mary Kay (Mrs Dale Larson). Leland’s ‘Bud’, family was early settlers of Pocahontas County, and the Hawleys received a Century Farm certificate (for living on the same farm for one hundred years) in 1981. Bud is a third generation insurance agent in Laurens, and has been very active in community affairs. He serves on the Board of Directors of Iowa Mutual tornado (IMT) Insurance Company of Des Moines, and holds several committee posts for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

Connie has continued to be active in the community of Laurens. He is past president of the GFWC The Laurens Womans Club, a state officer in The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (an honorary teachers organization), a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames 17th Century, Descendants of the Mayflower, the Lauens Genies, Order of Eastern Star, and many other clubs and organizations. The family belongs to the Laurens Methodist Church.

Son, Robert Carlson Hoag, is a senior at Laurens-Marathon High School. He is active in all high school activities, especially speech, drama, and music. He was chosen membr of ‘America’s Youth in Concert’, a good-will musical group from all fifty states touring seven countries in Europe in 1981. In the 70th General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature, (Jan-May, 1983), Bob was chosen as one of fifteen Senate Pages, at the Capitol in Des Moines. This was a landmark year in Iowa Government; a new governor, an increase in sales tax, and para-mutual betting being issues. During the summers, Bob is a teller at the Laurens State Bank, and plans to attend the University of Iowa.

My memories of Woodbury County are ones of appreciation. . . and roots which will never be forgotten. My family came here in the middle 1850’s and grew along with the county. I am always proud to say, ‘I am from Woodbury County’.