Obituary: Rex Carlson

As received from the Antila Funeral Service:

Rex Carlson, 81, a resident of Painesdale, passed away early Thursday morning on March 15, 2018, at his home with his loving family by his side.

He was born Rex Gene Carlson on November 10, 1936, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a son to the late Raymond and Evelyn (Huffman) Carlson. Rex’s mother, Evelyn, passed away when Rex was seven years old. Eventually Raymond married Irene Scott and together they raised Rex.

Rex graduated from Houghton Lake High School in 1954.

He went into the U.S. Army where he served in Occupied Japan as a Morse Code Specialist.

Rex served on the Michigan State Police Force as a radio operator and certified diver. He worked as a sheriff’s deputy for Oscoda County. He retired from Kneeland Industries in Mio. After retiring, he had his own business, Little Viking Sign Shop in Mio.

Rex married the former Barbara Armstrong in July of 1988, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kalkaska, Michigan. The couple moved to the U.P. in May of 2004, making their home in Painesdale.

Rex was an avid fisherman and loved leading many father/son trips to the U.P. and Canada. He was very active with the Painesdale Mine & Shaft. He loved giving tours of the mine and telling folks stories of what it was like in the mining days.

Rex was very artistic. He enjoyed drawing and painting pictures, which are proudly displayed in his home. He enjoyed people and loved sharing stories.

Rex is survived by his loving wife, Barb of Painesdale; children, Kelli (Carlson) Mark Wysocki of Petoskey, Traci (Carlson) Wasnack of Lewiston, Cory (Wendy) Carlson of Mio, Andi (Armstrong) Brent Light of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Nikki Carlson of Lansing, and Heidi (Armstrong) Szymanski of Mio. Besides his parents, Rex was also preceded in death by a daughter, Christi Carlson; and three grandsons, Austin Carlson, Christian Szymanski and John Szymanski.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mio on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Mentor Township Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Mountain View Mortuary of South Range, Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.