Carl Carlson

Everyone who spent time with Carl enjoyed laughter because one of his most beautiful gifts was his ability to make us all laugh.  Carl’s quick wit, sense of humor, and fun-loving personality will be remembered long after he is gone.  Carl Alfred Carlson was born in Spalding, SK on November 25, 1933; the first of seven children born to Daniel and Lillian Carlson. He joked that there was a shortage of names the year he was born.

He grew up west of Archerwill and started school in the fall of 1939 at Echo Park School and attended it for 10 years. Carl had the responsibility of going early in the morning and starting the fire in the woodstove to warm up the school, earning .25 cents a day. At the age of 17 with a grade 9 education he got his first job working on a farm and doing fencing jobs before going to work on the oil rigs in Alberta.  He was a derrick hand and driller for approximately 25 years and was respected for how well he ran a crew.  He was working on the rigs near Rimbey, AB when he met Lois Brodersen.  Lois and Carl were married on September 4, 1958. Carl continued to work as a driller on the oil rigs until 1963 when they moved back to Saskatchewan and bought his father’s farm. He farmed with his brother Bill for about 20 years.  It was on the farm where Carl and Lois raised their family of five – Marlene, Mervin, Carolyn, Dale and Jennifer. Their family grew to include 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Carl and his friend, Maurice Lupien, built a sawmill in 1980 and “Carl Carlson Custom Sawing” began.  Carl sawed lumber for 30 years, sawing over 3 million feet of lumber before retiring at age 75.

Carl was skilled at carpentry and woodworking and his kids have treasured keepsakes that he made for them.  He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, reading and playing cards, especially crib, for many years.

Carl and Lois were married for 53 years before Lois passed away in 2011.  Together they raised animals and always had a big garden on the farm.  Carl enjoyed all of Lois’ delicious cooking and baking throughout the years. Together they loved to watch curling, and The Golden Girls on TV, and they would spend hours visiting friends, family, and neighbours.  Carl and Lois enjoyed traveling across Canada before Lois passed away.  Carl also took trips to Yukon & Alaska and to the see the Redwoods in California in his retirement.  He loved his summer trips to Waskesiu where he enjoyed lawn bowling, ice cream, weiner roasts, and wildlife spotting with the family.

Carl had a stroke in October, 2018 and moved into the Kelvindell Lodge in March, 2019. He passed away May 1, 2020.  He is predeceased by his loving wife, Lois and his son, Dale, and daughter, Carolyn Shelton, his parents, Daniel and Lillian Carlson, brothers, Archie and Bill, brothers in law, Frank Neigel and Joe Klettberg.  Carl is lovingly remembered by his children, Marlene, Mervin (Marlene Curtis) and Jennifer (Wade) Bakken; son in law Randy Shelton;  grandchildren Daniel (Reena) Carlson, Ashton Curtis (Brin Thomas), Jay Curtis, Burke (Shelby) Shelton, Matthew Shelton, Addison Shelton, Cara Shelton, Cassandra (Prince) Macugay, Kieran Bakken and Kyler Bakken; great grandchildren Walker and Gunner Carlson, Lillian, Emily and Edwin Shelton and Skyla Thomas; sisters Margaret Neigel, Esther (Dennis) Anaka and Ilene Klettberg; brother Walter (Alvena) Carlson; numerous nieces and nephews, in-laws of both the Carlson and Brodersen families,  and many friends.

Donations in Carl’s memory may be made to:

Canadian Wildlife Federation

350 Michael Cowpland Drive

Kanata ON K2M 2W1