Phillip J. Carlson

Phillip J. Carlson, of Sauk City, Wisconsin and formerly of Mankato and Vernon Center, Minnesota, died Thursday, January 5 2023 with his daughters by his side.

A Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., May 13, 2023, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato.  Visitation will be one hour before the service.  Family interment in the Vernon Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given to Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Research Fund.   

Phil was born March 25, 1932, to Silas and Ruth (Clark) Carlson in Cambria Township, MN.  He graduated from Wellcome Memorial High School and was drafted into the Army in 1950.  After leaving the Army, Phil attended Brown Institute to become an Electronics Technician.  After graduation, he worked for  RCA in the Atlantic Missile Range on Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil and San Salvador Island, The Bahamas.  Phil married Valleen M. Schwarz on April 22, 1962, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Vernon Center. Phil and Valleen resided afterward in Titusville, FL where he worked at Cape Canaveral maintaining electronics in the weather stations. Upon the death of Valleen's father, the family moved back to the family farm in 1967 and resided there until moving to Mankato in 2004. In 2019, Phil moved to Maplewood Village Assisted Living in Sauk City, WI.

While living on the farm, Phil was an active member of the Vernon Center Township Board and Amboy Lions Club. He also taught Sunday School and sang in the choir at the Garden City Baptist Church. After moving to Mankato, he spent many hours volunteering with VINE Faith in Action.  He also was an active member at Hope Baptist Church.  In Sauk City, Phil enjoyed caring for the gardens surrounding Maplewood Village and keeping the local birds well fed.  He also enjoyed Sunday morning services at Graceway Church and many butter burgers from Culvers.    

Phil is survived by two daughters, Rachel (Greg) Geiselman of Sauk City, WI and Rebecca “Becky” Solensten of Stillwater, MN; four grandchildren, Ana and Phillip Geiselman and Brittany Solensten (Nick Glodosky) and Grant Solensten; two brothers, Robert (Norma) Carlson of North Mankato, and Wesley (Gloria) Carlson of Chino Valley, AZ; one sister, Eleanor Roth of Mankato; brother-in-law, Carl Grannis of Madelia; many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Phillip was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Valleen; brothers, Victor Carlson and Alfred “Lewie” Carlson; sisters, Marcella Smith and Edna Hughes; brothers-in-laws, Albert Roth, Dewey Jackson, Woodson Hughes, and John Smith; sisters-in-laws, Louise Carlson and Elaine Grannis; and niece, Rhonda Carlson O’Gorman.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by

Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.