Obituary of Clifford L. Carlson

Clifford L. "Doc" Carlson, 86, formerly of Jamestown, passed away May 4, 2016 in Wayzata, MN. He was the husband of Donna Spetz Carlson with whom he observed their 64th wedding anniversary July 7, 2015. Cliff was born January 2, 1930 in Jamestown, a son of the late Len and Gretta Anderson Carlson. He enjoyed summers as a camper at the YMCA's Camp Onyahsa and was a 1948 graduate of Jamestown High School. Since 1949, Cliff had been a member of the Vikings Lodge and was a drummer in the Vikings Drum & Bugle Corps. Cliff was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Korean War. He began his professional career at Nelson's Department Store and after serving in the Navy, he resumed his career in retail with Bigelow's Department Store. In 1961, Cliff started with the former Jamesway Department Store. He would remain with Jamesway from its opening in 1961 until its closing in 1995. Cliff left the Lakewood Jamesway store and relocated from Jamestown in 1965 to Wood-Ridge, NJ to work at the Jamesway home office in New York City. Cliff enjoyed summers on Chautauqua Lake with his family and friends at his cottage in Warner Bay. In 2012, he and his wife, Donna, moved to Wayzata, MN to be closer to their sons and grandchildren. He was a lifelong Methodist and attended Epworth United Methodist Church in Jamestown and the United Methodist Churches in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ and Minnetonka, MN. In addition to his wife Donna, surviving are a daughter, Karen (Stan) Carlson-Smith of New York City; two sons, Mark Carlson of Northfield, MN and David (Carla) Carlson of Plymouth, MN; and four grandchildren, Andrew & Rachel Carlson and Daniel & Sarah Carlson. He was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Carlson. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2016 in the Lind Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in Pine Hill Cemetery in Falconer. Friends will be received for one hour prior to the service, from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home.