Carlson, Milton E.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Milton E. Carlson, 96, of Cottage Grove Place, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, following a brief illness. A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church at a later date. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

Survivors include a daughter, Cynthia and husband James Good of Gig Harbor, Wash.; two sons, Douglas Carlson and wife Lynn of Seneca, S.C., and Richard Carlson and wife Jennie of Edina, Minn.; four granddaughters, Kathryn and husband Chris Sikes of Williamsburg, Va., Elizabeth Carlson of Easton, Pa., Amanda and husband Jayson Buechler of Sammamish, Wash., and Stephanie Carlson of Edina, Minn.; three great-granddaughters, twins Olivia and Isabel Cobian of Easton, Pa., and Laine Buecheler of Sammamish, Wash.; and a nephew, Bob Carlson of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Billee, who died March 2, 2003; his parents, Robert and Ellen Carlson; a brother, Arnold Carlson; sisters, Vera Marshall, Ivah Allen and his twin Mildred Lobb; and nephews, Lyle and Jack Carlson and Herb and Ralph Marshall.

Milton was born Nov. 13, 1913, in Sioux City, Iowa, and married Wilma “Billee” Loraine Douglass in Muscatine, Iowa on March 14, 1943. He was the youngest of five children born to Robert and Ellen Dahlsted Carlson, who had emigrated from Sweden. His family lived on a small farm near Elk Point, S.D., where he attended his first three grades in a one-room school house.

After the family moved to Sioux City, he completed schooling and graduated from Central High School. He enrolled at Iowa State College (now University) and joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He graduated with a degree in general engineering in 1936, but finding employment in engineering during the Depression was discouraging. Milt found work with a hardware store in Perry, Iowa, in 1937, but soon moved to Toledo, Iowa, where he accepted a job in the branch office of Iowa Electric Light and Power Co.

In 1939, Milt began employment with the Stanley Engineering Co. in Muscatine, Iowa. During World War II he worked on special war related projects, including a new air base in Sioux Falls, S.D. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Enlisted Reserve Corps with the U.S. Signal Corps program at the University of Chicago. Following his service, he returned to the Stanley Engineering Co. and also obtained his state license as a professional electrical engineer from the Iowa State Board of Engineering Examiners in Des Moines.

In 1948, Milt accepted a position with the Cedar Rapids home office of Iowa Electric Light and Power Co. (now Alliant Energy), where he went on to serve in various capacities, including that of chief rate engineer, commercial manager of the Cedar Rapids District and manager of Contract Services. He represented the company in its relations with Municipal Utilities, Gas Pipeline companies and the Federal Power Commission, where he frequently appeared on behalf of the company at hearings in Washington, D.C. He retired in 1982 after 34 years of service.

Milt took an active part in the work of his profession. He was a past president of the Cedar Rapids Engineers Club. He served as president of the Iowa Engineering Society in 1961 and 1962 and received the Anson Marston Award in 1974 for outstanding service to the society. He was a life member of the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Milt was actively involved in community affairs most of his life. As member of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, he served on the board of directors and the Executive Committee. He worked with Junior Achievement and also served on the board of directors. He was an active member of the Tuesday Noon Optimist Club for many years and was a past president. He was a past member of Elmcrest Country Club.

Milt enjoyed giving of his time and abilities throughout his life. He was an Eagle Scout and led a Boy Scout troop after college. For a number of years after retirement he enjoyed working as a volunteer preparing income tax returns for elderly and low income families. Into his 90s, he helped youth with their homework at the Boys and Girls Club and also volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in the Lunch Buddy Program. More recently he volunteered to assist a class at Kirkwood Community College by meeting regularly with two students for a class project centered on interviews with a senior citizen.

Milt was an active member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for over 60 years, serving on numerous boards and commissions. Throughout these years he was a member of the Family Fellowship Sunday school Class and actively participated in the religious and special programs of the class.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, St. Luke's Hospital or to a charity of choice.

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