Obituary of Gordon Carlson

Gordon E. Carlson, 94, of Cambridge passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. He was born on March 10, 1916 in Iron River, Michigan to Rev. Carl Alfred and Anna (Petterson) Carlson. In 1918 the family moved to Alexandria, MN and lived there until 1924 when his father took a call to pastor North Isanti Baptist Church in Cambridge. Gordon grew up in Cambridge attending school and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1933. After high school he attended Normal School for one year to become a teacher and taught for three years at country schools in the area. Gordon attended Bethel College for one year before enrolling at the University of Minnesota, School of Mortuary Science. He graduated from mortuary school in 1939 and in 1941 went to work for the Berglund Funeral Home in Cambridge. On July 25, 1941 he was united in marriage to Mildred E. Danielson at North Isanti Baptist Church. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II and was honorably discharged after 3 ½ years. Gordy and Millie resided for their entire life in Cambridge with the exception of one year when they lived in Chicago. In 1952 Gordon purchased the funeral home from Alvin Berglund and ran for two years at which time his brother Stanley joined the business. Gordon and Stanley operated the Carlson Funeral Home along with an ambulance service for several years. In 1974 they sold the funeral home to Terry Labatte and Gordon retired from the day to day operations. He continued working in several areas with the funeral home until 2004 when his health prevented him from doing so. Gordon especially enjoyed assisting at funerals, which gave him the opportunity to meet and visit with the many different people. He had been a resident at Grandview Christian Home now GracePointe Crossing Gables West since 2004. Gordon served on the Cambridge City Council, was one of the original board members for Cambridge Memorial Hospital and was a long time active member of North Isanti Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and bowling and traveling. He especially enjoyed the trips he and Mildred took to Sweden and Turkey. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mildred in August 2003, grandson Andrew, great granddaughter Lauren, grandson-in-law Mark, brothers Thorsten and Stanley, sister Lillian Stallings. Gordon is survived by sons Dale and wife Jeannine Carlson of Isanti, Douglas and wife Linda Carlson of Stillwater, daughter Beverly and husband Terry Scully of Minneapolis, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Eleanor Carlson of California, Donna Carlson of Cambridge, special friend Willette Fredeen of Cambridge, and Turker Genc, a foreign exchange student who lived with Gordon and Mildred from 1957-1958. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.