LeRoy M. Carlson, 98, Formerly of Woodstock

LeRoy M. Carlson, 98, formerly of Woodstock, died peacefully Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, at his home in Florida where he lived with his son, David, who cared for him.

He was born Sept. 4, 1918, to Henry R. and Etta M. (Wheeler) Carlson.

On Aug. 18, 1942, he married Marjorie Lehman.

He attended Woodstock schools and graduated Woodstock Community High School in 1936. While in high school, he opened the Eastside Grocery in his parents’ house. After graduating, he worked at the Cittadella chicken farm for about a year, then took a job at the First National Bank in Woodstock. In 1942, he took a position as an accountant at Fitz Simmons & Connell Dredge & Dock Company in Chicago.

He served in World War II in England, France and Germany.  He was in the Rhineland Campaign in central Europe, serving as a chaplain for part of that time.

When he went into the service, his wife returned to Woodstock. 

He returned home in 1945 and went back to work at Fitz Simmons, making several trips to South America for them.  He went to work at Thatcher Engineering in Gary, Ind., in 1978.  After he retired in 1980, the couple moved to Sun City, Ariz., where his sister, Ruth, and her husband, Harold, lived.  

He and his wife loved to travel around the United States and even took a trip to Europe. They supported people less fortunate by providing financial support to children in need and helping individuals with their taxes and Social Security.  When his wife died in 1985, he moved back to Illinois.

In 1986, he married Anne Roales Brown. They lived together in Florida until her death in 2012.

Survivors include three children, David Carlson, Ralph (Karen) Carlson and Mary (Ted) Mar, all of Florida; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a sister, Rae, Woodstock.  

He was preceded in death by his first wife; his second wife; a son, Alan; his parents; and a sister, Ruth (Harold) Kutchera.

A burial remembrance was held Nov. 10 at the graveside in Big Foot Cemetery, Big Foot.