Robert Harold Carlson

Robert Harold Carlson (82) died on October 22, 2023 with family by his side after a battle with cancer. Bob was born on June 2, 1941 to Harold and Dorothy (Holst) Carlson in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Growing up in Detroit Lakes, Bob and his older brother Dave were on the water and golfed all summer. After high school, Bob joined the class of 1964 at West Point Military Academy. After graduation Bob completed Airborne and Ranger Schools. He was deployed to Germany before Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal, finishing his service as a captain. The summer before Bob was to leave for Vietnam from Germany, he met Joan who was visiting from Scotland. Over the next year, Bob and Joan exchanged letters and were married in Edinburgh, Scotland on December 10, 1969. After the Army, Bob joined IBM in Topeka, Kansas. In 1972, while in Topeka, their son Aaron was born. In 1973 they moved to Philadelphia where Bob attended Wharton School of Business, earning his MBA. Upon graduation they moved back to Minnesota and welcomed their second child, Tessa, in 1975. The family moved to Bloomington, Minnesota where Bob coached his kids' youth sports teams and loved watching them play through college. He was always quick to help the refs with pointing out a 3 second or traveling violation. In 2002 Bob and Joan moved to St. Paul. Bob's career was led by his strong ethics. In 2002, as co-CEO of Reell Precision Manufacturing, the company was awarded the Minnesota Business Ethics Award. Bob retired in 2006 and shifted his focus to sailing on the St. Croix and Lake Superior, golf, the annual family vacation to Arcadia Lodge, travel, and grandkids sporting events. Bob's gracious and generous nature made him special to many. He was deeply loved and is missed by those he left behind; his wife of 53 years, Joan, and children Aaron (Julia) Carlson, Tessa (Brad) King, grandchildren Catherine Carlson, Robert Carlson, Daniel King, and Eleanor King, many nieces and nephews, and extended family. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Dorothy, and brother Dave. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, Historic Fort Snelling, Hwy. 5 & 55, St. Paul, MN 55111. Internment at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, 2023, Assembly lane #6, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception will follow at Plank Museum and Visitor Center, Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Ave., St. Paul, MN 55111, from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Memorials in honor of Bob can be made to Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org).

Tributes

Robert Harold Carlson

June 2, 1941 - October 22, 2023

Tributes

Robert Harold Carlson

June 2, 1941 - October 22, 2023

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