W. Dwaine Carlson

Wilbur Dwaine Carlson was born October 16, 1920, at his Spencer, South Dakota, farm home, the fourth of six children, to Melvin and Frances (LaDue)Carlson. He attended Farmer SD Public School where he excelled in basketball, high-jumping, and pole-vaulting. Following high school, Dwaine, known by his middle name because his uncle's name was Wilbur, pursued his future in Detroit MI where other family members had

migrated because of the difficult economy in the rural midwest. He served in the US Army during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Following his honorable discharge, Dwaine returned to Detroit where he married Virginia Goltz. Dwaine began his distinguished life-long career at Excello Corporation from which he retired as a Supervisor. He was an avid outdoorsman who was a skilled hunter and fisherman. A dedicated and loving father to his three sons, he coached them in sports and hunting and supported them in their dreams. He beautifully landscaped his two Holland MI homes including ponds, pine trees, flowers and abundant gardens. As a hunter and a family man, he so enjoyed annual return trips to South Dakota for family pheasant hunts for many years. After living in Detroit and Holland MI, he retired to Hemet CA in 1998. Just after beginning a retirement life in California, his wife Virginia passed into eternal life on February 17, 1998. Always a very loving, generous and gracious gentleman, in later life Dwaine so enjoyed and loved his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. In 2002 Dwaine was married to Helen Smith. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Helen; his sons, Dwaine (Josie) and Michael; sister, Doris Ciaverella; brother, Robert (Gail);grand-daughters, Jennifer (Eddie) Vance and Jessica (Eric) Harris; grandson, Jim Carlson, Jr.; step-son, Tom (Cindy) Smith; sisters-in-law, Florence Carlson and Agnes Jaster; step-grandsons, Tom Smith, Jr., Eric Smith and Jonas Abad; step-granddaughters May (John) Thomas and Samantha (Kelly) Jackson, and Linda Carlson (Daughter in Law). He also is survived by three great-granddaughters, one great-grandson, nine step-great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife Virginis; son, Jim; brothers Maurice and Elwood; sister, Esther Tierney; and step-son William (Billy) Smith.