CARLSON, David R., age 81

Died: Thursday, February 16th, 2017

Private family services will be held.

David Roger Carlson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin passed peacefully on Thursday February 16, 2017 in Altoona, Wisconsin. 

He was born on November 29, 1935 in Superior, Wisconsin, son of David E. and Alice H. (Jarvi) Carlson.

David graduated from Superior Central High School class of 1953, enlisted with the US Naval Reserve and trained at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois ultimately serving as a Machinists Mate. He attained a technical degree graduating from Dunwoody Industrial Institute in 1958.

David began his professional career at Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a draftsman and designer until 1968. He continued his career at Gates Radio Company in Quincy, Illinois as a mechanical engineer until 1978, and finally moved to back to Wisconsin working for Cray Research in Chippewa Falls until his retirement.

David married Marilyn Dawn Rasmussen in 1957. They raised three sons and instilled the virtues of honesty, self-reliance, and reverence for nature. Summers were punctuated with vacation camping trips in Wisconsin and Minnesota, the most memorable of which involving fishing and canoeing trips on the St. Croix River.

Upon returning to Wisconsin David took an interest in sailing. David always believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well, to the best of one's ability, and so he became an avid and accomplished sailor. He and Marilyn sailed their pride and joy Suvetar (goddess of the south-wind in Finnish mythology) around and beyond the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior.

He was a voracious reader and enjoyed historical and biographical works as well as fictional novels. Reading was his source of knowledge lending familiarity with many subjects which allowed him to enjoy conversation with everyone he met. He was also proud to be a member of American Mensa.

David leaves behind his wife, Marilyn of Eau Claire; sons, Brian (Cindy Hendrickson) of Gloucester, MA, Jeffrey (Nanci Fine) of Mendota Heights, MN, and Curtis (Janet Carlson) of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Jeromy (Becky) Carlson, Ethan (Rachel) Carlson, Andrew Carlson, Tyler Carlson, Gretchen Carlson, and Hannah Carlson; five great grandchildren; niece, Jill Sullivan, née Dzikonski and nephew, Craig Dzikonski; other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his dear grandson, Thomas Carlson; sister, Ruth (Joe) Dzikonski; brother-in-law, Darrell Rasmussen; and sister-in-law, Shirley Center, née Rasmussen.

David will be missed as we wish him "fair winds and following seas…."