John R. Jack Carlson

John R. “Jack” Carlson, son of Nell and John Carlson, Sr. was born May 18, 1923 in Creston. Jack died Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at HCI Hospice Home in Creston at the age of 91 years. He graduated from Creston High School in 1941. Jack joined the US Army Air Forces in June 1942 and saw active service in WWII, including spending 17 days on a raft in the Southwest Pacific before being picked up by Navy PBY in submarine patrol. He received two air medals and oak leaf clusters from General X.T. Prentiss.
Jack married Dorothy Toland in Des Moines on February 14, 1948. He worked for the railroad for 11 years and then the US Postal Service until his retirement in 1983. Jack and Dorothy spent many enjoyable years backpacking and camping in the US and Canada as well as spending winters in Mesa, AZ during the Cubs spring training. Jack was an avid fisherman and dipped his net into the many streams of the West, Canada, and Alaska.
Jack was a member of the United Methodist Church, American Legion, BPO Elks Lodge #605, Masons, and the Gold Fish Club (an association for people who have jumped by parachute from an aircraft into the water or whose aircraft crashed in the water). He taught swimming lessons, Sunday school, and was a member of the Water Safety Board.
Jack is survivied by his wife, Dorothy Carlson, of Creston, Iowa, daughter Martha “Marti” (husband Mike) of Oakland, CA, daughter Linnea Carlson of Berthoud, CO, and grand-daughter Claire Carlson Jones of Portland, OR.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard Anderson.