Obituary of Willard Carlson

Willard Dahlsten Carlson, 91, of Marquette, passed away December 7, 2010. Born at home on July 11, 1919, Willard was greeted by sisters Erlanne and Amy Marie. William and Anna Carlson's only boy, his was a childhood surrounded by love and family as he grew up across the street from his grandparents. After grade school in Fremont, he went to high school in Marquette and graduated in 1937. After turning 21, he signed up for the army and left for boot camp after harvest in 1941. He was deployed to Africa, often saying he marched across the northern coast. His company saw action in Safi, Oran, Tunisia, and Algeria. He was in the Tunisian Campaign moving through the Casserine Pass. While many around him fell in the fierce fighting, Willard moved through El Guittar and on the Bizerte. Then came Sicily and Italy. After victory in the Mediterranean, he moved on to England arriving on Thanksgiving Day, 1943. His company crossed the English Channel on June 8, receiving a Silver Star Medal for crawling through mined territory, taking out a gun and the enemy crew in a machine gun next. Just after throwing the grenade, he got a bullet in the neck. He woke up in England, convalesced, and reentered the war at the Battle of the Bulge. He crossed the Roer River, marching through severe winter weather and heavy fighting and finally crossed the Rhine River into Remagen where he was wounded by artillery barrage. Shortly after they crossed into Germany, the Germans surrendered and Willard went home on a prison's transport in charge of 300 prisoners. Willard came home to a grateful family and country. He farmed with his father on the family farm in Fremont. One evening he met the lady of his life at the bowling alley in Lindsborg. Willard, the bachelor of 47, made the choice to embrace a ready made family as Vada Loder became his bride on February 17, 1967. The family in turn has loved and accepted Willard in the 43 years of their marriage. Husband, father grandfather and great- grandfather - all roles fit him well. Three children, 17 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren will miss him, but celebrate as he begins he new residence in Heaven with Jesus. We will meet on the other side He was preceded in death by sisters, Amy Marie Morris and Erlanne Lundgren. Willard is survived by his wife, Vada of Lindsborg, Step-sons, Douglas Loder of Langley, Bruce Loder of Brookeville, step-daughter, Teresa Arnhold of Ellsworth, 17 step-grandchildren, and 28 step-great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, at Marquette United Methodist Church, Marquette. Burial will be held at Langley Cemetery, Langley, KS. Memorials may be designated for Riverview Estates, Marquette United Methodist Church, or Hospice Care of Kansas in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N Washington Street P. O. Box 386 Lindsborg, KS Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Thursday at Marquette Methodist Church. Online condolences at www.christiansfuneralhome.com