Funeral services for Wallace Carlson, 81, of St. James, Minnesota, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning, January 9, 2015, at the First Lutheran Church of St. James. The church is located at 716 6th Avenue South.
Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in rural St. James, located on Watonwan County Road #27 South.
Reverend K. Christian Johnson will serve as officiant at the services.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, January 8, 2015, at Sturm Funeral Home-St. James, located at 906 10th Avenue South, as well as for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.
Wallace Carlson passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2015, in St. James.
Wallace Franklin Carlson was born on March 23, 1933, on the family farm near Butterfield, Minnesota. Wally grew up and attended country school and graduated from Butterfield Public High School. Wally was baptized and confirmed at Kansas Lake Lutheran Church in rural Butterfield, where he was an active member over the years.
Wally farmed south of Butterfield until his retirement.
On May 20, 1989, he was united in marriage to Gladys (Askeland) Johnson. The couple made their home in St. James. Wally loved his dogs on the farm, traveling, a good meal, good music and his chocolate. His faith, family and friends were important to him.
Wally is survived by his wife, Gladys Carlson of St. James; children, Diane Carlson of Otsego, Minnesota, Rick Carlson of Cosmos, Minnesota and Randy Carlson of Rochester, Minnesota; a granddaughter, Becky (Shawn) Haberman of Mankato, Minnesota; step-children, Steve (Charlotte) Johnson of St. James, Tom (Becky) Johnson of Worthington, Minnesota and Kris (Tom) Suess of St. James; siblings, Chuck (Jackie) Carlson of Dallas, Texas, Harriet (Bob) Luker of San Jose del Cabo, Mexico and Annette Schipp of Mankato; 11 step-grandchildren and eight spouses; 20 step-great-grandchildren; four nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister, infant brother and a brother-in-law, Steve Schipp.
