Neil Carlson

Albert “Neil” Carlson, 91, of Ottawa, Kansas died Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at Ottawa Retirement Village. Memorial services will be held at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 29, 2013. A friends and family visitation will follow the service. Inurnment Woodlawn Cemetery, Pomona, Kansas. Neil was born on Monday, October 10, 1921 in Brown County, Kansas, to John Albert and Clella (Maxwell) Carlson. He attended school in Robinson, Kansas and graduated from Robinson High School in 1939. Following graduation, he worked for farmers in his area, and in 1941, he relocated to California where he worked both for Briggs Parking Lot and in the ship yards in Los Angeles. In 1942 he enlisted in the United States Navy, completing Boot Camp in San Diego. He served from June 1942 until January 1945 in the South Pacific as a Radio-Radar operator on a Ventura Twin Engine Medium Bomber. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Star in lieu of the 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross Pacific Theater Air Medal. On July 3, 1946 Neil was united in marriage to Ruth V. Stansbury in Lyndon, Kansas. She preceded him in death on September 9, 2011. He later worked at Winter General Hospital and Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Ottawa Truck, Hercules Powder Company in DeSoto, and retired from the Army Corps of Engineers at Pomona, Kansas. He was a 50 year member of the Hiawatha Lodge #35 A.F. and A.M., a life member of VFW 5901, Ottawa, and a member of the American Legion. Survivors include many nephews and nieces, as well as great-nephews, great-nieces, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruth; infant twin son and daughter; parents; sisters, Charlene Wilson, Thelma Day and Roberta Schuetz; and brother, Maxwell Carlson. “Uncle Neil” is fondly remembered for his great enjoyment of boating and fishing, as well as hunting with his good friends and his two German short-haired dogs. The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Prairie Paws c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.