Jack Oscar Carson, beloved husband of Eileen, passed away suddenly on Monday, November 23, 2015 at Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, KS . Jack was born June 4, 1923 in Keokuk, IA to Oscar and Dorothy Carson. Jack attended Waukesha H.S. and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940. After training, he was sent to Hickam Field in Hawaii where he served with the 2nd Tow Target Detachment. He was in his barracks the morning of December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Jack was then sent to the Fiji Islands as part of a support group providing fuel and supplies to the war effort in the Pacific. After attending loadmaster school in Miami, FL he moved to the European theater and flew out of Casablanca, Morocco supplying the armed forces in Italy. On his discharge from the military, he attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA where he competed on the swim team. He reenlisted in 1949 and was transferred to O’Hare Field where he served as a trainer. There he met Eileen and they were married on June 4, 1949 in Park Ridge, IL.
Jack was stationed at Westover AFB, MA; National Field, Washington, D.C.; and Kindley AFB, Bermuda. Eileen followed him wherever he went. In Bermuda, the family grew to include Susan and Steven. Next was Charleston AFB, SC; recruiting in Chicago, IL; and flying with the Strategic Air Command in Omaha, NB. Howard joined the family there. The next move was to Kelly AFB, TX. The family grew with the addition of Jeffrey and Gary. In 1963, the family returned to Hawaii where Jack served with the 4650th Combat Support Squadron. He returned to the mainland and finished out his military career at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. Jack retired in 1971 as a tech sergeant. He attended Longview Community College (A.A.) and the University of Missouri at Kansas City (B.A.).
Jack worked as a manager at the Arrowhead Restaurant at Arrowhead Stadium; Leawood South Country Club; and Richards-Gebaur AFB Open Mess. After retiring from the Civil Service, he delivered flowers for Kathleen’s Flowers, Overland Park.
Jack was a Chiefs and Royals fan. He loved to go to auctions and became quite the collector. After his retirement he and Eileen travelled to Europe twice and returned to Hawaii in 1991 and 2006 for the 50th and 65th commemorations of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors organization in Kansas and often went to local schools to share his stories.
Jack is survived by his wife, Eileen Soenksen Carson; daughter Susan Carson Farmer; sons Steven, Howard (Lydia), Jeffrey (Maribeth) and Gary. He took great pride in his grandchildren Melissa Carson, Rebecca Carson Toy (Frank), Alexander Carson, Jack Berner Carson; Matthew Farmer and Clare Farmer (Mohamed Ahmed); Brian Carson, Angela Carson Miller (Scott); and Jeremy Carson. He was able to meet his five great grandchildren: Liam Miller, Sage Miller, Oliver Toy, Miriam Toy, and Izaldin Ahmed. Other survivors include his sister Carol Carson Gordon (Elliott) and brother David Carson (Marilyn) and numerous nieces and nephews.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18