Thomas Carson

THOMAS D. CARSON

Humboldt

Thomas D. Carson, 59, of Humboldt, passed away Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. A visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt, by the Rev. Christy Ehrle.

Thomas Dean Carson was born Oct. 28, 1956, in Washington, Iowa, to Leo and Helen (Soukup) Carson. He attended Ainsworth Consolidated Schools until the sixth grade, and then graduated from Highland High School in 1975. In school, Tom was active in sports, such as basketball, football and baseball. He was named first team all-conference pitcher his senior year.

In 1978, Tom suffered injuries in an automobile accident that caused paralysis in his lower limbs. He rehabilitated, and by 1980, was employed as a dispatcher for the Linn County Sheriff's Office in Cedar Rapids.

In August 1986, Tom began working as an air traffic controller at Flight Service Station in Wichita, Kan. He transferred to Fort Dodge Flight Service in July 1987 and worked there until his retirement from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2005. He last worked as a part-time dispatcher at the Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center.

On Dec. 15, 1989, Tom united in marriage with Sarah Crossley at Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt. On June 17, 1996, Tom and Sarah adopted their daughter, Lauren, from Romania.

Tom had many interests and loves, including the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals. He particularly loved helping people, playing cards, baseball, his friends, and most of all, his family. Tom stated the two things of which he was most proud were marrying Sarah and adopting Lauren.

In the early 1990s, he acquired a handcycle and became an avid cyclist. He rode in parts of RAGBRAI for a dozen years or so.

Cherishing his memory are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Lauren. Siblings include Carolyn Carson (Judy Moxley) of Solon, Terry (Renee) Carson of Fort Dodge and Jack (Sue) Carson of Galesburg, Ill. He also was father to Brittany (Brad Neilly) of Marion; brother-in-law to Nancy Kirkpatrick, Susan Fleck, Thomas (Debi) Crossley, Rebecca (Scott) Nierman, Jon (Kelly) Crossley and Laura Crossley; uncle to Tye (Dawn) Carson, Amy Pfeiffer, Molly (Tony) Buckman, Abby Carson, Jack Carson Jr. (Haydee Lozano), Christine (Jason) Halverson, Chad (Jennifer) Carson, Stacey (Chad) Huedepohl, April (John) Fleck, Erin Fleck, Hannah Fleck, Megan Nierman and Marni Nierman; and son-in-law to Alice Crossley.

Tom was preceded in death by Helen (mother), Leo (father), and Tim (brother), as well his father-in-law, Dr. Norman Crossley.

The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home of Humboldt is assisting the family.