Dave J. Carlson, born January 7, 1945 in Fort Dodge, Iowa was granted eternal rest on August 14, 2018 in Leesburg Florida, at the age of 73.
Dave entered the U.S. Army in 1965 and was deployed to Vietnam where he earned three Purple Hearts. Following his Army service, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became an air traffic controller. Dave rarely spoke of his time on the battlefield and his bravery was only discovered last year during a background check made prior to an “Honor Flight” to Washington DC. Although his medical condition prevented him from making the trip, on September 28, 2017 by order of the President of the United States, he was awarded The President’s Personal Military Service Medallion in recognition of his courage and honor while serving his country during the Vietnam War. Later that year, he was also awarded the Florida Governor’s Veterans Service Award.
After Dave’s tour in the U. S. Air Force he traveled around the country and the world, eventually settling in Minnesota. Dave was a multi-talented man whose career took twists and turns to take advantage of opportunities as they arose. He was a realtor, restaurant manager, a builder, wood worker, designer, landscaper, antique restorer, and remodeler, to list just a few of his interests. He most enjoyed his time helping to build, design and manage several marina properties on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. When the last marina was sold, Dave returned to Fort Dodge, Iowa for several years before tiring of Winter and moving to Leesburg, FL in 2016. Dave was a happy, hopeful, always optimistic man whose kindness touched and influenced many lives.
Preceded in death by his mother Laura Hair Anderson, brother Rex Carlson and stepfather Marvin Anderson, Dave is survived by his brother Bruce Carlson, Sisters Loretta Martin, Jane Grinstead and Julie Ledoux, his stepmother Kitty Anderson, stepdaughters, Lisa Heimann, Debb Ollie, and Michelle Jorgensen, eight step grandchildren, several step great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at 2 p.m., Monday August 20, 2018.
In lieu of flowers donations are requested to Dave’s favorite charity:
Project SOS, Support Our Soldiers, Inc., 2412 Due West Drive, The Villages, Fl 32162.
