David John Carlson

David John Carlson, age 84 of Mankato and formerly of North Mankato died Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Pathstone Living in Mankato.

David John Carlson was born on March 9, 1938, in Red Wing, MN to Ruth (Carlstrom) and Paul Carlson. His early years were spent in Cannon Falls, MN until the family moved to North Mankato in 1949. He attended school in North Mankato and graduated from Mankato High School in 1956. Dave worked at Kenny Beetch’s Texaco station and Kato Engineering until he enrolled in the Court Reporting Course at the Minnesota School of Business in 1961. He returned to Mankato in 1964 and established his Free Lance Court Reporting business. Shortly after, Dave met the love of his life Sheryl, and they wed in 1965. In 1973 he was appointed an Official Court Reporter for the Blue Earth County Court. In 1986 he was appointed the Court Administrator for Blue Earth County and was thereby authorized to perform civil marriages. Until his retirement he had performed over eleven hundred such marriages.

He was Past President of the Minnesota Shorthand Reporter’s Association, the Minnesota Association for Court Administration, the North Mankato Rotary Club and served as Mayor and Councilman of North Mankato from 1970 to 1980 and again from 1986 to 2000 at which point, he likes to say he was third in a two-person race.

David is survived by his wife, Sheryl; daughters, Melanie (Troy) Smith of Brooklyn Park and Jennifer (Neal) Jacobson of Sauk Rapids; grandchildren, Madison Maren Smith, Tyler David Jacobson, Camryn Riley Smith and Brooke Elizabeth Jacobson; niece and nephew, Tina Olson, and Eric Carlson.

Preceded in death by his parents, brother Roger (Adeline) Carlson, nephews Michael and Christopher Carlson.

Dave’s family would like to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for our friends and family and all the support over the last several months. Also, a most heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Pathstone and with Mayo Hospice. Dave enjoyed meeting and working with everyone involved in his care and we as his family are most appreciative of you all during the past 8 months as well as the last several days of his life.

A special thank you to Brad Walker for the use of the scooter that enabled Dave some freedom to get around and get up to Sheryl’s apartment most days so they could be together.  Also, we are especially grateful for John Corcoran for availing himself to whatever needed doing or fetching.

A Memorial Gathering will take from 1 – 4 p.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary.