Robert Edward Carlson

CARLSON STRONG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 21:05:39

Woodbury County History 1984

Robert Edward and Wilma Aldys (Strong) Carlson
By Constance L C H Hawley

Robert Edward Carlson, only son of Frank Edward Carlson and Rosa Lyons Carlson, was born 15 February 1900, near Climbing Hill, Iowa.

Robert had three sisters, Frances, Sylvia and Marie. He attended country school near Climbing Hill and graduated high school from Moville, Iowa, in 1917. After graduation he farmed and worked for Woodbury County.

On 20 April 1929 he married Wilma Aldys Strong, eldest daughter of Miles Sanford and Hertha Edith Palmer Strong, at her parents’ home north of Climbing Hill at high noon.

Wilma had attended Climbing Hill school and while in high school had excelled in girls basketball. She played jumping center on tri-divided court. Each time a basket was made the ball was returned to center court to jump, so she was invaluable to her team. On the way to an all-day tournament, Wilma sprained her ankle and the team was forced to forfeit the games.

After graduating in 1924, she attended Morningside College and later worked in the Martin’s store in Sioux City, Iowa. She traveled to Washington state with her grandmother, Nancy Amelia Palmer and returned to Sioux City to work.

After their marriage Bob and Wilma moved to a farm north of Climbing Hill and Robert became Bridge Foreman for Woodbury County.

Their only child, Constance Louise, was born 20 October 1932. Because of a change in county government administration, the family decided to move to a farm near Smithland, Iowa, in 1934. They farmed and Robert ‘Bob’ was a gravel checker for all of Woodbury County. He ran for and was elected Woodbury County Supervisor in 1942. The couple then bought a farm in the Oto School District where Bob resided until his death in 1974.

Bob was a member of Amicable Lodge AF and AM, Smithland, Iowa, and the Sioux City Consistery; member and former president of the Oto School Board; and Woodbury County Supervisor for 26 years. He was a republican in political persuasion but his honesty and integrity were admired by all people.

Wilma was a member of Evergreen Chapter of Smithland, serving in all offices, and was Worthy Matron when Bob and daughter, Connie, were initiated in 1951. Currently she is a member of Danbury Chapter, O.E.S. She is a member of the Oto Ladies Study (Federated) Club , serving as president several times, the Otot Cemetery Society. The Colonial Dames 17th Century and The Society of Mayflower Descendants and enjoys her garden and her family.

The Carlsons joined the United Church of Christ, of Oto, Iowa.

Robert passed away 29 March 1974 on the family farm and was eulogized by Rev Walter Enstrom in these words: ‘Bob was a man whom we all liked and respected. He will be missed. He served his church as a member of the Danbury-Oto Parish Council. I apreciated his interest in his church, his progressive attitude to programs and work of the church. He was the kind of man that could be caught up in the dreams and potential in regard to the future of even a small rural church and the future of even a small rural church and parish such as this. He will be hard to replace.

We also know him well as a former County Supervisor of Woodbury County, an office to which he was also devoted. Bob and I talked politics from time to town, I supposed because we agreed so much of the time. I found him a dedicated and honest man, a man so honest that he could not really understand the kind of campaign waged against him by the Sioux City newspaper and his political opponent. We in the Oto and Danbury area knew why the roads out here had gotten in the condition that they were. I bring this up because Bob’s response again showed his character. He did not reply by going down to that level in defense of himself. His humor showed through when he said he was not God and did not bring the rains that got the roads in that shape. Bob was in no way the Watergate type of politician we have gotten so used to and so sick of. He was a public servant and there is a vast difference between the two. His ia good memory. We have lost a good friend.’

Wilma has continued to reside on the farm and enjoys the land and her home and many activities such as the Senior Center at Rodney. She has traveled to Nassau, Alaska, Hawaii, the East and West Coasts, and especially New York City where she heard her grandson, Robert Carolson Hoag, sing in Carnegie Hall.