Jacquelyn Carlson

Jacquelyn “Jacky” Mae Carlson, 77, of New London, died Saturday, October 12th at St. Cloud Hospital.  There will be a private family service held with burial in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org

Jacky was born October 1, 1942, in Two Rivers, WI, the daughter of Elliott and Genevieve (Nelson) Anderson.  As a young girl, her family moved to Willmar where she attended elementary school, and then graduated from Willmar High School in 1959.

On January 31, 1960, she was united in marriage to Douglas Carlson.  They lived in Alexandria for a short time before moving to Willmar. For 20 years, Jacky worked full time as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell while raising four children. In 1979 she later took care of their farm, raising beef cattle, while Doug continued to work at Nolan Baker Ford.

When the children were young, Jacky loved taking them on their annual summer vacations to National Parks out west. She was known for her baking and hosting the best birthday parties. She baked for Lucia day at church, and for 50 years, she baked for her weekly coffee with best friend, Lil Fossum, who was like a sister.  Her love of birds, gardening, cats and taking care of the farm, explemified her love of the outdoors.  Jacky’s family was first and foremost though and she was a great teacher, teaching them values of hardwork, being humble, and having no fear for whatever life threw at you.  Jacky loved tradition, and decorated the home for each season. She loved music and was a piano teacher, gifted seamstress, liked restoring old furniture and attending auctions.

Surviving are her husband, Doug of New London; daughters: Mindy (and Tim) Hardy of Willmar; Debora Gunderson of Willmar; Jodi Carlson of New London and Connie Carlson of Chaska; seven grandchildren: Nathan, Katie, Rachel, Samantha, Jacob, Benjamin, and Christopher; four great grandchildren: Rebekah, Abigail, Mason and Whiley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elliott and Genevieve Anderson and her grandparents, John C. and Bertha Nelson of Spicer.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jacquelyn Carlson, please visit our floral store.