Robert Carlson

Robert G. Carlson, 88, of Baxter, died Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Good Samaritan Village - Bethany in Brainerd. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with family and friends invited to gather one-hour prior. Interment with Military Honors will be held at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

Bob was born September 8, 1925, in St. Louis Park, MN, the son of Charles and Ethel (Reff) Carlson. He graduated from Vocational High School in Minneapolis and in December of 1943, he was inducted into the United States Army serving as a Sergeant in WWII. He served with the 285th Engineer Combat Battalion, 3rd Army in the European Theatre of Operation. He received several honors including European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. His battles included Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland, and Central Europe.

On August 3, 1947 he married June Rieke in Fairfax, MN. To this union three children were born. They made their home in Minneapolis for several years until they moved to St. Louis Park, MN. In 1986 they moved to their cabin on Pine Mountain Lake in Backus and in 2005 they moved to Baxter and in 2009 to Excelsior Place Assisted Living.

Bob was an avid trap shooter and enjoyed hunting ducks and pheasants. After retirement Bob and June spent their winters in Arizona and summer on the lake in Backus. He was a "putzer" spending hours in the garage or at his workbench in the basement. In 1985 he received recognition from the Commanding Officer of the USS Stark for his outstanding design contributions to the MK13 GMLS and MK75 gun. This recognition was given to him on deck of the USS Stark in Duluth, MN.

Bob is survived by his three children, Carol (Richard) Engelstad, Barbara (Scott) Hare, and Bruce (Sharon) Carlson; grandchildren, Kevin, Monica, Ian, Erin (fiancé, Tyler), Blake, and Jennifer; great-granddaughter, Mya; two sisters, Kay Rust and Mary (Jim) Whalen; many nieces and nephews; and his Excelsior Place Family. He was preceded in death by his wife, June; his parents; brothers, Charles, William, and Gordon; and sister, Dorothy; an infant granddaughter; grandson, Jason; and four nephews, Bob, Mike, Tom, and Chuck.

Blessed be the memory of Bob.