Roger Carlson

Roger Carlson, 89, of Moline, IL, passed away Monday, April 19th, 2021, at Genesis Medical East, Davenport, IA.

Visitation will be Friday, April 23, 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with service to follow at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Moline.

Memorials may be made to the 15th Avenue Christian Church in Rock Island.

Roger was born at Lutheran Hospital in Chicago, IL, September 8, 1931, to Clarence and Ellen Carlson. He married Mable Butcher on September 29, 1956 in Rock Island, IL.

Roger was a graduate of Moline High School. He started his Carpenters' Apprenticeship with Axel Carlson Company, Moline, in 1955, then becoming a Journeyman in 1956, at which time he became the Vice-President of the Carpenters' Local 241. In 1958, after working his way up, Roger became the President of the Local 241 and was a delegate to the Carpenters' District Council. In 1963, he became their Business Agent and was in charge of nine different locals for thirty years. Roger was also Vice-President of Building Trades in 1964, becoming their President in 1965 for two years and after thirty years as their Business Agent, being elected to AFL-CIO Hall of Fame in 2000. Al Gore, who was running for President at the time, was present at Roger's recognition ceremony. He served on the Moline Housing Commission and as Chairman of Carpenters' Apprentice for twenty-four years; he was a life-long believer in organized labor. Roger was a life member of Oakwood Country Club. He loved boating, playing cards (Euchre), being an avid golfer, and especially loved the kids' sporting events and going to all their games.

Survivors include his wife, Mable Carlson of Moline, a son, Mark Carlson of Moline; a daughter, Sue (Jim) Hallstrom of Moline; six grandchildren: Hayley Voorhees, Heidi Kleinhans, Holly Pearson, Jamie Hallstrom, Grace Carlson, and Grafton Carlson; ten great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Dolores Strombeck Jersild of Rock Island and Nancy (Cliff) Anderson of Edina, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents.