Richard W. Carlson, Jr.

Richard W. (Rick) Carlson, Jr., 89, of Fountain Hills passed away on Dec. 21, 2017 in Scottsdale.

Born in Duluth, Minn. to Richard W. and Bernice Carlson, Rick was a long-time resident of Scottsdale with his wife of 54 years, Mary Jo, who pre-deceased him in 2007. Together they raised their family in Aberdeen, S.D., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Naperville, Ill. before retiring to Scottsdale in the 1980s following the sale of his business.

He is survived by his three children, David Carlson (Phoebe Stone), Carin Carlson (Ronald Fisher), and Nancy Spreigl, as well as three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Rick was a combat veteran of the U.S. Army, and served with occupation forces in Japan. Upon his return, he attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where his studies were interrupted by deployment to North Korea. He saw action there with X Corps in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Following his honorable discharge, he completed his college studies and married Mary Jo in 1952.

Rick loved sports and the outdoors. He learned to ski and skate as a young boy, and grew up hunting and fishing with his father in the northern woods of Minnesota. He was also an avid golfer and, with Mary Jo, a long-time member of the Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service and reception, which will take place at Fountain View Village, 16455 East Avenue of The Fountains, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 on Friday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. In a private ceremony, he will be interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of AZ.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring to honor Rick’s memory may send donations to Interfaith Cooperative Ministries at PO Box 2225, Phoenix, AZ 85002.