William George "Bill" Carlson


IAW his final orders William George Carlson, SFC, USA (ret.) executed his final change of station Sunday, 29 July 2018. Contrary to what he often said, he lived his last days at his home, not the "old soldiers' and sailors' home". His passing marks the end of his and his family's nearly 57  years as residents of Cahokia, IL.
Bill, as he was known to family and friends, was a great storyteller. He was born April 20, 1929 in Boston, MA to Carl A. and Hilja (nee Anderson) Carlson, both from Aland, Finland. In 1931 at the height of the Great Depression Bill's father died. Hilja, like many other widows, chose what she thought best for her family and went to nursing school. At two years of age Bill with his older brother went to live at the Swedish Lutheran Children's Home in Avon, MA. Bill remembered not only playing while his older brother worked, scrambling with other children trying to match up donated shoes, and lining up for a dose of cod liver oil from the sisters, but also being around nurses and physicians as he grew up near hospitals and a New Hampshire lake where his mother was the summer camp nurse. He lived at "The Home" until he started his freshman year in high school when he moved to his maternal grandparents' house in Milton, MA.
In 1947 after graduating high school, at 17 yrs of age Bill enlisted in the US Army and for 23 yrs took his pharmacy and laboratory technician skills to Italy, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, California, Missouri, Viet Nam, and Alabama. He often mentioned his fondness for Hawaii where he married Jean Pyun in January 1952. Jean would tell people that they raised a family and put their children through college on an enlisted man's pay "by doing without" and because it was simply an unspoken expectation. As a result he proudly wore the colors of the universities across the United States from which his children and grandchildren were graduated.
After retiring from the Army in 1969 Bill returned to Cahokia in 1969 where Jean had lived raising their children while he served his final two years in Viet Nam and Alabama. Bill worked as a laboratory tech in St. Louis at a hospital, East St. Louis for Alcoa, then back in St. Louis for Petrolite until his final retirement in 1984. From then on Bill continued his quiet life in the same Cahokia house even after his children were married and Jean's death in 1989. He said that he kept the house because he always wanted a place his children could come back to.
In 2004 Bill fell in love with Patsy Powell with whom he remained the rest of his life. His children, grandchildren, family, and friends all recognized and appreciated their love for one another. Together they enjoyed baseball (he'd cheer for his Boston Red Sox and she'd cheer for her St. Louis Cardinals). They were regulars playing pinochle and socializing at the Cahokia Senior Center. Price was never a deterrent to a meal at McDonalds, Red Lobster, or Cracker Barrel. Best of all Patsy and her family allowed Bill to become part of their family since his children were often dispersed across the country. They shared their annual vacations, birthdays, and holidays, chauffeured Patsy and him to his old stomping grounds in California, but most of all showed they loved him. Patsy and her family will always be cherished for everything they did with and for him.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, mother, father, brother, Carl A. Carlson (Patricia) of Port Angeles, WA, and son-in-law, Mark G. Jobst of Waterloo, IL. He is survived by his children, Sandra A. Jobst of Midlothian, TX, Neal A. Carlson (Rita) of Panama City Beach, FL, Glenn A. Carlson (Mary Jo) of Valley Park, MO, and Carl A. Carlson (Karie) of St. Louis, MO. He was the proud grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of five.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Columbia, Illinois or the Fisher House Foundation at www.fisherhouse.org.
Condolences may be expressed online at braunfh.com.
Friends may visit from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Braun Family Funeral Home, Columbia, IL. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 3, 2018, at the funeral home, with Reverend Darwin Schrader officiating.
Bill will be buried along side Jean at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.