John A. Carlson

John A. Carlson, 73, of Hawley, MN, died Sunday, April 7, 2013 in his home.

John A. Carlson was born December 16, 1939 in Morris, MN, the son of Paul and Hazel Smith Carlson. He grew up in Morris, MN and graduated from High School there in 1957. He enlisted in the United States Army National Guard on November 22, 1954 at the age of 14 and fully retired on December 16, 1995 after 41 years of service in the Army, Army National Guard, and US Army Reserve. He moved to Hawley in 1969 and served as an Administrative Personnel Officer at the Moorhead Armory for most of his career and retired with a rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four CW04.

John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing including many trips to Canada and Lake Michigan with family and friends. As part of the on-going training with the military, John enjoyed traveling to many Army bases throughout the United States and Germany. He liked to read and looked forward to receiving his National Geographic and Readers Digest magazines every month. John also loved to cook and will be remembered by many for his daily early morning walks around Hawley. John was a wonderful father and proud grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family.

John was greeted in Heaven by his son, Kirk, his parents, his brothers Paul and Clayton Carlson and his sister Joanne Toso.

He is survived by his sons, Jonathan, Fergus Falls, MN and Dana Brandi and granddaughter, Alanna, Moorhead, MN; brother, James Cathy, White Bear Lake, MN; sisters-in-law, Doris, Crosby, MN and Carol, Sleepy Eye, MN; and brother-in-law, John Toso, Sun City West, AZ.

At John’s request a visitation will be Saturday, April 13, 2013, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 3:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN. Family interment service will be at Hawley Cemetery.