Robert T. CARLSON

FARLIN, GARDNER, CARLSON, KLEIST, SCHARFFENBERGER, DIXON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

December 25, 1927 ---- September 19, 2017

Robert T. Carlson of Ankeny, Iowa died on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. A Memorial Service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2017 where friends may call one hour prior to services.

Mr. Carlson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska December 25, 1927. He moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1950 and to Ankeny in 1991. He married Barbara Dixon in 1951, and she preceded him in death in 1985. In 1997 he married Leona Farlin Gardner. He was the owner and President of Dixon's Wholesale Meats, Inc. of Urbandale, Iowa.

Mr. Carlson was a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Life Member of the Alumni Association. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served in the Navy in MSTS during the Korean War.

Mr. Carlson had been active in the YMCA, serving on the Board of the Y's Home. He had been on the Board and President of the National Association of Credit Management-Iowa Unit. He served on the Board of the National Association of Meat Purveyors. He was a member and President of the Merle Hay Kiwanis Club. As a 60-year member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, he served on the Board of Trustees, was an Elder, Sunday School Teacher, and served on numerous committees. He served on the Westminster Foundation Board, and on the Board of Calvin Manor. He was a 50-year member of Waveland Masonic Lodge and a former member of High 12. He was a member of the American Legion Post.

Mr. Carlson volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps and made trips to Poland in 1994 and Bulgaria in 1997 to assist businesses in those countries. He had been a member of the Friendship Force and traveled to Australia in 1989.

Following the death of his wife Barbara he was active in the AARP Widowed Person Services where he served as State WPS Coordinator and then as National Trainer for AARP-WPS. He served on the Iowa Leadership Council of AARP. For many years he was actively involved in the leadership of LADOS (Life After Death of Spouse) in Des Moines.

He is survived by his wife, Leona Carlson, sons Rev. Robert T. Carlson, Jr, (Barbara) of East Lansing, Michigan and Randall K. Carlson (Candice) of Jefferson, Georgia and a daughter, Connie Scharffenberger (Stuart) of South Lake, Texas, 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandsons. He is also survived by a stepson, Alan Gardner (Leslie) of Milo, Iowa and a step-daughter, Janean Kleist (Gary) of Minnetonka, Minnesota and 9 step -grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Westminster Church Foundation or Ankeny Presbyterian Church.

https://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Robert-Carlson/Ankeny-Iowa/1754029

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[2nd wife Leona Mae (Farlin) GARDNER CARLSON operated a video store in Eagle Grove, Iowa]