OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Larry Ray Carlson was born May 9, 1949, in Topeka, Kan., to Wilma Agnes and Robert L. Carlson Sr., and passed away peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 24, 2022, at his home.
Larry was married Jan. 8, 1972, to Deb Boss. They were divorced. To this union were born two sons, Travis Carlson, Topeka, and Brice (Tisha) Carlson, Topeka. He had three grandchildren, Adam, Brody, and Lilly Carlson, who were the loves of his life. He spent countless hours with them at their dance recitals and sporting events, teaching them baseball and fundamentals, and just hanging out at home. Larry counted his sons, daughter-in-law and grandchildren as his greatest blessing.
His brothers and sisters are Stella Dorr, Osage City, Kan., Alan Carlson (Patty), Osage City, Danny Carlson (Betty), Topeka, and Bernadine Faulkner (Phil), Osage City.
He was preceded in death by an angel grandchild; brother, Robert L. (Butch) Carlson Jr.; mother, Wilma; and father, Bob.
Larry attended public school in Osage City, graduating with the class of 1968. He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Roark, DE/FF 1053, and in recent years he had reconnected with shipmates and attended ship reunions. Larry worked for Del Monte, Quaker Oats, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Topeka, before he retired several years ago.
Larry was an avid Kansas Jayhawks fan and loved participating in Fantasy Football every season with his sons. Larry loved Christmas and always went overboard with gifts and celebrations with his family.
Larry was a member of the Grace Community Church, Overbrook, Kan.
For the past five years, Larry’s health was greatly compromised with kidney failure and severe heart issues. He had been on kidney dialysis and was on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, which sadly never came. In his honor, please consider signing the back of your driver’s license to be an organ donor. “Don’t take your organs to Heaven, Heaven knows we need them here”.
Family will receive visitors 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Van Arsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth St., Osage City. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. immediately following the visitation, at Osage City Cemetery, with military honors provided by the United States Navy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Midwest Transplant Network, 1900 W. 47th Place #400, Westwood, KS 66205, or the Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th St., Topeka, KS 66604. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.
