Charles B. Carlson, 95
Charles B. Carlson, 95, of Essex, passed away early Monday morning, Sept. 12, 2011, at the Clarinda Regional Health Center in Clarinda.
Charles Bernice Carlson was born to Emil A. and Effie June (Nelson) Carlson July 12, 1916, in Essex, the eldest son of three children.
Bernice grew up in the Essex area and graduated from Essex High School in 1933.
He was married to Lenora Althea Pearson Dec. 28, 1938, in Buffalo, Minn. This union was blessed with two children, David and Judith. Later in life, they finished raising Connie and Christie Almquist, adopted children of the late Reynold and Gunhild Almquist.
Bernice’s entrepreneurial background started with selling Purina feed and bottled gas, eventually progressing into the “other half” of the Almquist-Carlson Trucking partnership. In later years, Bernice worked in the Randolph Elevator and as the general manager of Johnson Brothers Mills for 10 years.
He was a long-standing member of the Faith Evangelical Covenant Church in Essex, where he fulfilled many leadership roles and sang bass in the church choir.
Bernice was an avid reader, fisherman, private pilot and volunteer firefighter in Essex.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Max Carlson; a brother-in-law, Delbert Pearson; four sisters-in-law, Lucille Carlson, Arby Pearson, Gladys Pearson and Dee Pearson; a daughter-in-law, Margaret Carlson; and granddaughter, Rachel Carlson.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 73 years, Lenora Carlson, of Essex; his children, David (Sandy) Carlson, of Pelican Rapids, Minn., and Judith (Robert) Fastenau, of Clarinda; additional children, Connie (Hans Petter) Almquist Buvollen, of Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Christie Beckman, of Dublin, Calif.; five grandchildren, Joanne (Randy) Sandage, of Atlantic, Allen (Jana) Fastenau, of Clarinda, Deanne (Scott) Marriott, of College Springs, Ann (Paul) Fischer, of Hastings, Minn., and Elena Lenora Buvollen, of Oslo, Norway; eight great-grandchildren, Stacey (Andrew) Smith, of Braddyville, Jeremy Fastenau, of Clarinda, Kyle Sandage, of Atlantic, Luke Marriott, of College Springs, Jessica Fastenau, of Clarinda, Kari Sandage, of Atlantic, and Hope and Rachel Fischer, of Hastings, Minn.; three great-great-grandchildren, Lily and Macen Smith, and Jayden Fastenau; sister, Helen Mae (LeRoy) Johnson, of Red Oak; three brothers-in-law, Darrell Pearson, of San Diego, Calif., Leland (Doris) Pearson, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Leonard Pearson, of Minneapolis; a sister-in-law, Mona Pearson, of Minneapolis; along with many other relatives and friends.
Celebration of Life service took place Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Faith Evangelical Covenant Church in Essex with Rev. Jim Ressegieu officiating. Burial was in the Essex Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established in Bernice’s name. To leave online remembrances or condolences with the family, go to www.kirschfuneral.com. The Kirsch Funeral Chapel of Shenandoah is in charge of arrangements.