Gordon Carlson

Gordon Hartley Carlson died Oct. 30, 2012 at St. John’s Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.  Internment will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis.

  Mr. Carlson was born April 15, 1924 in Chicago, Ill. He served in the Eighth Army Air Corps during World War II as a Flight Engineer on B-24 Bombers earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals among others.

  He married Joyce Marilyn Leithardt on Sept. 10, 1949 in Chicago. They are the parents of Pamela Little, Clear Lake, Iowa, Brian Carlson, Port Washington, Wis., John (Donna) Carlson, Eureka, Mo., and Cherie Krauss, Kirkwood, Mo.  They are grandparents of Scott (Kaley) Little, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Aria and Hartley Carlson, Columbia, Md.; Jacob, Alan and Jesse Carlson, Eureka, Mo.; and Nola Krauss, Kirkwood, Mo. They are great grandparents of Brecken Little, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and another little one on the way.

  Mr. Carlson was active in numerous church and community activities both before and after his retirement from careers in manufacturing, sales and nursing home management. Locally, he participated in the October 2009 Honor Flight Winnebago with his daughter, Pam, the first formal recognition of his service; and Earth Day Clean Up with Mason City Noon Rotary.

  Mr. Carlson’s ready smile, quick humor and practical advice were counted on by those who knew him. He was deeply committed to his faith, his family and proud of being “100 percent American with Swedish parts”. He was preceded in death by his parents, J.V. and Emma Carlson; and his siblings, Judith Anderson, Ralph Carlson and Kenneth Carlson.