Stanley Carlson

Stanley W. Carlson, 92, of St. Joseph, passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. A celebration of life service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 13 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Dan Colthorp officiating. Committal services will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph with Military Rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation or Caring Circle Hospice. Those wishing to sign Stanley’s Memory Book online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. The family would like to extend their appreciation to Pine Ridge for the wonderful care Stanley received over the last six months. Stanley was born on September 19, 1926 to Viola (Nelson) and Warner Carlson in St. Joseph, MI. He acquired his education in St. Joseph and Chicago, IL. Being a man of great ambition, he had many jobs, from delivering papers to working in a bakery and a poultry market during his school years. As a young man he worked on a ranch in Douglas, WY (he wanted to be a cowboy) until he was drafted into the army in 1944, serving until 1946 in the Philippines as a member of the 24th Hawaiian Infantry Division. He was a mess Sargent cooking for a hospital unit. After being discharged he moved to Arcadia, NE where he was engaged in farming. There he met Barbara Richardson and they were united in marriage on July 2, 1950. They farmed together in Nebraska until 1953 when they moved back to Michigan. Stanley then worked for New Products Corporation for 7 years, then went to work for the City of St. Joseph as a Heavy Equipment Operator for 28 years until his retirement in 1978. Though Stanley could be described as a workaholic, he also took time to enjoy life. His army position led to a joy of cooking and he also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a life member of VFW Post 1137. He will be missed by many. Stanley is survived by his wife, Barbara; children Carlene (Mark) Dubel of Lake Havasu City, AZ and Ivar Carlson of Berrien Springs; grandchildren Joshua Methling, Matthew Methling, David Dubel, Margaret Dubel, and Suzanne Williams; great-grandchildren Kylee Methling, Kaleb Methling, Emily Dubel, Travis Dubel, and Cooper Williams; and siblings Arlene Spalding of Manitowac, WI and William Carlson of Chico, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents.