Obituary of Charles H. Carlson

Charles “Chuck” Henry Carlson , 89, of Ann Arbor, MI, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2024, because he was just too darn old. Born in Jamestown, NY, on July 1, 1934, he was the second son of Genus and Louise (Kastenhuber) Carlson.

Chuck was a 1952 graduate of Jamestown High School. He continued his education at the University of Cincinnati where he began a co-op job that culminated in a lifelong accounting and financial analyst career with the Chrysler Corporation in Detroit. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and Beta Alpha Psi fraternities. In 1957, he served as a US Army Second Lieutenant in Fort Benning, GA. He earned a BA in accounting from University of Cincinnati and an MA in accounting from University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

In January 1959, Chuck married Caroline Marie Jonsson (Jones) in Jamestown, NY, and they raised three children together, Charles Mark, Kristen Marie and John Conrad, while living and working in Switzerland, Michigan, Mexico, Venezuela, Ohio and Indiana.

Chuck was a lifelong reader and pen pal, ardent U of M fan, storyteller, joker and kidder with a sharp memory. He loved Mexico, his Swedish heritage, the auto industry, the arboretum’s peony garden, speaking Spanish, baseball, cooking, farmers’ markets, quality-made clothing, and his childhood terrier dog Tippy at 85 Tower Street.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, older brother Genus Jr, wife Caroline, and daughter Kristen. He leaves behind two children and their spouses: Charlie (Denise), and John (Catherine), and his precious granddaughter, Annalise Marie, all of Ann Arbor, MI. His ashes will be interred at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Ann Arbor memorial garden.

Chuck was a friend to all and will be missed. Donations may be made in his name to the Breakfast Program at St. Andrew’s.