John M Carlson

John M. Carlson, age 57, of Mankato, died unexpectedly on Monday, August 13, 2007.

Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday (TODAY) at Mankato Mortuary. Funeral services will be held in Iowa on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be given to an organization of the donor's choice.

John was born on August 18, 1949 in Mt. Pleasant, IA. He was the son of Myron and Martha (Johnston) Carlson. John was a 1967 graduate of Mt. Union High School. He attended Muscatine Jr. College and Iowa Wesleyan College before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969. John served in Viet Nam where he was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. He graduated from Mankato State University in 1976 with a degree in corrections and sociology.

John began working at the Mankato Post Office in 1976 serving in many capacities such as clerk, supervisor, and Director of Mail Processing. For the past several years he has been a night supervisor at the mail processing facility. John was a member of Hilltop United Methodist Church in Mankato, the DAV, American Legion, and the Order of the Purple Heart. He enjoyed and supported Mankato youth and college hockey, golfing, and muskie fishing.

John is survived by his wife, Renate of Mankato; son, Tony Carlson of Portland, OR; daughter, Andrea Carlson of St. Paul, MN; mother, Martha Carlson of Winfield, IA; two brothers, Jim (Colleen) Carlson of Winfield, IA and Jeff (Lori) Carlson of Mt. Vernon, IA; also several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Myron and a son, Michael John Carlson.