John William Carlson

John William Carlson, 71, died at home, on April 7, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. His death resulted from complications of amyloidosis.
He was born September 25, 1950, in Elyria, OH, son of Gordon and Vera Mae Carlson. Graduating from Elyria High School in 1968, he went to Taylor University in Upland, IN, graduating in 1972. He received his Masters Degree in Journalism from Ball State University in 1980 and began a 39 year career in the newspaper business as a copy boy at the Muncie Evening Press. Later he became a reporter, feature writer, city editor and humor columnist for The Star Press, retiring in 2014. He was known in the latter part of his career as the Chow Hound, searching East Central Indiana for the best restaurant food, particularly cheeseburgers and tenderloins. His favorite project, though, was a set of feature stories on World War II veterans.
John loved poetry, collecting books and reading poems each day. He was a dues-paying member of the Cloud Appreciation Society and loved cloudy days the most. He rode his beloved Harley slowly along the country roads west of Muncie. An aviation nut since childhood (thus his nickname "Ace"), he soloed as a teenager and later earned a commercial pilot's license. He was most proud of having made two dead-stick landings of his airplane near the end of his flying career. Always a writer, he began submitting stories and letters to the editor as a teen and published short stories in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen mystery magazines in the 1980s. Two volumes of his humor columns were published by the newspaper. After retirement he wrote books about veteran John Bultman, a local bar called Sparky's Doghouse, Animal Rescue Fund (ARF), and singer-songwriter Jennie DeVoe. His latest writings appeared online weekly in The Muncie Journal and are archived there.
He met his wife Nancy Briggs Huber while covering a parade in downtown Muncie during the spring Farm Festival. They were married over 40 years and had two children, Katherine Helen (Katie) and John Gordon.
Survivors include his wife Nancy; two children, Katie and John (wife Stephanie Kovach Carlson); his sister Patricia Carlson Wilson; as well as cousins, an aunt, several nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and his rescue dog Jersey. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, nephew Michael Brown, and brothers-in-law, Robert Wilson and Bruce Briggs.
Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Monday, April 18, 2022, at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 900 W. White River Blvd., Muncie, with additional visitation one hour before the service. Interment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to one of John's favorite non-profits:
The Carlson News Education Fund, Ball State University Foundation #2811, www.bsu.edu/foundation; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund, www.holytrinitylutheranchurch.com; Grateful Rescue & Sanctuary, www.gratefulrescue.org; or
Animal Rescue Fund, www.munciearf.com.