James Lawrence Carlson

James Lawrence Carlson, 85, of Nodaway, passed away Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the Alegent Mercy Hospital in Corning.
Jim Carlson was born May 18, 1931, in Page County near Essex, the first son of Wallace L. and Irene (Peterson) Carlson.
The family moved to Wahoo, Neb. the following year and back to Iowa a year later to the Frank Carlson home place northwest of Essex. They lived on the farm a couple of years then moved into Essex, where Wally started an oil business. Jim attended school in Essex through the middle of seventh grade when the family moved to Red Oak, where he graduated from high school with the class of 1949. Jim completed junior college and graduated in 1951.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1951 until 1953. In the fall of 1954, Jim attended Iowa State College and completed two quarters, transferring to Colorado A & M in the spring of 1955. In the fall of 1956, he started work with Western Electric and worked for two years as an installer. Jim had applied with the FAA and was qualified as an electronics technician, but there were no job openings at that time. Finally, in March of 1959, Jim started with the DOT/FAA. Jim attended many hours of training for the FAA. He retired with over 5000 hours of formal training from the Aeronautical Center at Oklahoma City, Okla. He retired in 1987 as a computer specialist at the Denver Air Traffic Control Center in Longmont, Colo. He had been a maintenance tech for over twenty years.
In May of 1962, Jim married Susan Anselmo and one son, James M. Carlson. They divorced in 1970. While attending computer school in 1972 in Oklahoma City, Jim met and immediately married Helen Gutierrez on March 31, 1972 in Paris, Texas. He and Helen lived on a small farm near Berthoud, Colo. and their three boys, Jay, Jimmy, and Jeff all graduated from high school while living there. After retiring and seemingly enjoying life in Colorado, they made a big and expedient move to Iowa to live near Jim's mother. Jim's good friend Lyle Olson found the farm they still live on today, and Jim and Helen decided to make the move. They never looked back. Jim loved living on the farm, where he worked in the garden and played on his bulldozer. Jim always felt blessed to live in Iowa where he treasured his family being close, including the Carlson and Peterson cousins whom he got to see from time to time.
Preceding him in death were his parents; son, Jay Carlson; and brother, Phillip Carlson.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Helen Carlson of Nodaway; children, James M. Carlson and wife Vicky of Denver, Colo.; Jeff Gutierrez of Nodaway; Bill Moore and wife Maury of Nodaway; and Gene Moore of Johnstown, Colo.; grandchildren, Todd Moore, Trina Rioux and husband Jason, Ethan Carlson, Hannah Carlson, and Jared Carlson all of Denver; great grandchildren, Adeline Rioux and Katherine Moore; brothers, Randy Carlson and wife Sandy of Loveland, Colo. and Lowell Carlson and wife Diane of Denver; sister, Janet Stout of Wakeeney, Kan.; sister-in-law, Carolyn Carlson of Denver; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak. Burial will be in the Essex Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel.
Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.