Donald Richard Carlson

Donald R. Carlson, 83, of Moline, IL. died Saturday, September 8, 2007, at Trinity Medical Center West in Rock Island, IL. Donald Richard Carlson was born July 3, 1924, to Carl and Esther (Peterson) Carlson in Moline. He married Marlowe Esther Mellgren on June 19, 1948, in Moline. She preceded him in death September 6, 2000. He was a 1942 graduate of Moline High School, and attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. From 1944 until 1945, Don served in the U.S. 8th Air Force in England. He was to go to Japan, but the war ended there before he was deployed. Don was formerly employed by Staacks Florist in Moline, and then by Polo Farm Store in Polo, IL. For a time he was an Insurance Agent for All American Insurance Co. He worked for K'nees Florist before purchasing Flowerland in 1961. Flowerland merged with K'nees Florist in 1976, and Don became Vice-President. He retired in 1989. Don was a member of First Lutheran Church, and later Calvary Lutheran Church, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent, Council Member, and was active on numerous committees. He was the Building Committee Chairperson. He belonged to the Tri-City Florist Club, and was Florist Of The Year for the Illinois State Florist Association in 1989. He was a charter member of the Moline Breakfast Optimist Club, and was 30 years in the Boy Scouts of America. He was a Den Chief, a committee member, and a scoutmaster. He established the first troop for handicapped scouts at Calvary Church, sponsored by the Optimists. Don also enjoyed baseball, golf, fishing, and playing cards. Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 11th, from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline. Services will be held on Wednesday, September 12th, at 10:00 A.M. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Moline. Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens in Silvis, IL, with Military Rites accorded by American Legion Post #246 of Moline. Memorials may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church in Moline, or the Moline Breakfast Optimist Club. Survivors include: three daughters: Barbara (Joe) Geerts of Davenport, IA., Pam (Gary) Gross of Moline, IL., and Cynthia (Vinh) Pham of Silvis, IL.; two sisters-in-law: Bonnie Carlson and Rosalie Mellgren, both of Moline; two granddaughters: Beth Gross and Cassie Pham; and three grandsons: Matt (Megan) Geerts, Doug (Amanda) Gross, and Jon Pham. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a brother: Kenneth Carlson; two sisters-in-law: Marjorie Chelstrom, and Marion Johnson; and two brothers-in-law: George Johnson, and Ellsworth Mellgren.