Charles Carlson

Charles Byron "Coolie" Carlson, 77, of Red Wing, died Monday, Dec. 14, at St. Brigid's at Hi Park from complications of Alzheimer's. He was born on April 16, 1932, in Red Wing to Carl and Evelyn (Larson) Carlson. He graduated from Central High School in 1950. He was a member of the 23rd Infantry Division, Tanks Platoon, US Army. He served in the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1954 and was honorably discharged. On August 27, 1954, he married Audrey Johnson. He worked for his father at Carlson's Grocery before they moved to Morgan Hill, CA, where he worked for IBM in San Jose. In 1983 they returned to Red Wing and he worked in Rochester for eight more years. In 1990 he retired as an Advisory Engineer after 33 years with the company. Coolie enjoyed playing the trumpet and had his own band, "Moonlight Serenaders," during his high school years. He also played in Mildred and Vernon Peterson's "Old Time Orchestra" during the same period. In California he played with "Marty Baum's Big Band," which performed for Stanford University's alumni, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and at many civic events. He served on the Morgan Hill Planning Commission. For many years he was the choir director of First Presbyterian Church and also served as an elder and a trustee. In Red Wing he was a member of First Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council, Men's Cooking Team, ushered, sang in the choir, and attended Men's Bible Study. He was a member of the Red Wing Aurora Ski Club, Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post #54, Golden K's, and served on as Clerk of Hay Creek Township for 12 years.
He will be greatly missed by his wife Audrey; daughter, Laurel (Tom) Bulen of White Bear Lake; son David (Sue) Carlson of Shoreview, two grandsons, Cameron and Kellen Carlson; and one sister, Miohne (Frank) Fulton of Red Wing. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at First Lutheran Church with Rev. David Jore officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Legion prayer service all at First Lutheran Church and also one hour before the service on Friday. Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church in Red Wing or Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Research. Funeral arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.