Donald Alfred Carlson, age 93, of Rhinelander, WI, passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at Golden Living Center-Golden Age in Tomahawk. He was born May 19, 1920, to the late Frank and Adeline Carlson who immigrated to Wisconsin from Varnamo, Sweden along with five of Don’s older brothers. He was married 63 years to Emily “Dollie” Berndt-Carlson. He lived in the same house that he was born in 93 years ago.

In spite of contracting polio at age 3, Don remained physically fit and enjoyed shooting basketballs, bicycling, and boxing. Growing up, Don could always keep up with the other kids in sports. He enjoyed riding motorcycles in his youth, especially Harley and Indian Motorcycles. The family has fond memories of many hours of wholesome fun and work at the family cottage on North Pelican Lake on the Moens Chain. He spent many hours hunting and fishing, and was a champion blueberry picker…he could fill a pail faster than anyone! In his later years, he loved playing catch with his grandchildren TJ and Jeni. Don was a loyal Packers fan, enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk and was an avid newspaper reader.

Don worked at Daniels Manufacturing and the Wisconsin Conservation Department – Forestry Division.

Survivors include his wife, Emily “Dollie” Carlson, Rhinelander; two sons, Frank Carlson and Ted (Jeana) Carlson, Rhinelander; a daughter, Dr. Diane (Reid Buell) Carlson, Sacramento, California; two grandchildren, TJ and Jeni Carlson of Rhinelander; two nieces, Donna Lewis of Hudson and Sonja (Ben) Dunbar of Asheville, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harry (Red), Einar, Estone, Tivo, Lloyd, and Gordon (Beb) Carlson and nephew Jim Carlson.

The family would like to thank Lynn Rogers of Rhinelander for her compassion and the loving care she gave Donald the past year and half. Lynn, along with Don’s family, cared for him and kept him in the home he was born in until a month ago. We would also like to thank the angels at Golden Living Center-Golden Age in Tomahawk and AseraCare Hospice who cared for him his last month of his life.

A private funeral service was held at Forest Home Cemetery in Rhinelander. Generations Funeral Home of Tomahawk is assisting the family. To view Don’s obituary online, visit generationsfuneral.com.