Shelene Adeline Carlson, 88, daughter of Walter Isaac and Bess (Bright) Thompson, was born on September 1, 1917, in Crawford County, Illinois. She passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa.
Shelene's early life was spent in rural Crawford County, Illinois. She graduated from Flat Rock High School with the Class of 1930. Shelene moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where she worked as a floral designer at Naomi Light Company and later owned Designing Woman 2. On January 21, 1961, Shelene was united in marriage to Alex Carlson in St. Joseph. Following their marriage they lived in rural Essex, Iowa, where Alex was engaged in farming. Shelene was artistically talented was a gifted floral designer. She enjoyed making flower arrangements for weddings and other special occasions. She liked to write poetry, hunt, fish, make quilts and play bridge. Most of all she loved spending time with her great-grandchildren and family reunions in Illinois. Shelene was very active in the Fremont Lutheran Church in a variety of ways, she was currently co-chairwoman of the WELCA Circle and the Christian Action Quilting Group. She was a member of neighborhood Bridge Club and Birthday Club.
Preceding Shelene in death were her parents; husband, Alex Carlson; son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Berneice Carlson; and granddaughter, Christy Carlson; five brothers, Gene, Harold, Howard, John and Charles Thompson. Survivors include her grandson, Reggie Carlson and wife Monica of rural Essex, IA and great grandchildren, Nathan Carlson and wife Angela, Tina Crawford and husband Dan and Anna Carlson; granddaughter Trina Brewer and husband Steve of Cedar Falls, IA, great grandchildren Tyler and Megan Brewer; great-great grandchildren, Madison and Nolan Crawford; sisters, Bernice Mundhenk and husband Woodie of Robinson, IL, Elizabeth Clutts and husband Bob of Lawrenceville, IL; brothers, Richard Thompson and wife Norma and Byrl Thompson, all of Robinson, IL; sister-in-laws, Jeanne Thompson of Lafette, TN, Lucille Thompson of Hutsonville, IL, and Edna Thompson of Odin, IL; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Memorial services were held on Monday, February 27, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at the Fremont Lutheran Church at Nyman. Words of comfort were given by Pastor Sarah Brown. Shelene willed her body to Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha to further aid medical research.