David Carlson

David is front and center, watching home movies with aunts, uncles and cousins!

St John’s Choir circa 2010

Here is a photo of David with his Rock City Machine family. These people contributed to David’s life in a way they will never know. We are grateful for each and everyone of them.

How can I sum up in words all the feelings I have for my husband, David? These are the words that sum them up the best. They are on a wall plaque hanging in our bedroom. “I have found the one whom my soul loves.” Song of Solomon 3:4. David was a man who rarely said “I don’t know.” All who knew him, knew if they had a question about a problem, he was likely the man to ask. From carpentry to plumbing, electrical issues, plants and people, David had an answer. He could even tell you about divining rods, which he made for himself to find where our waterline laid hidden in our drive way (and of course he found the pipes and fixed that plumbing problem). He was loyal, honest and generous. He was kind yet firm. But most of all, to me, he was funny. We used to kid people that we had a comedy routine that we performed regularly at Zane‘s on Friday nights. He was fun at cards and games but especially at backgammon. No one will ever be able to take his place and I miss him more than words could say. But, I am thankful for my family who keep David alive to me every day. David and I used to have an ongoing dialogue where David would say to me. “I love you” and then I would say back to him, “I love you more”, to which he would reply “We’ll see”. Sweet man of God, I miss you.

My favorite memories of my dad come from the every day things. In childhood it was playing outside and ALWAYS seeing him working on something; the car or the garden or his pond. It was hearing him call us home from playing with friends using his famous whistle that you could hear all the way down the street. And you knew that if you ever asked him what he was doing he would always say, "Paintin' the house" Or if you wanted him to make you a sandwich, he would throw his long slender fingers out like he was doing a magic trick and say, "You're a sandwich!". Looking back, I wonder now how a man that tall could ride down a hill on a sled with two little kids sitting between his long lanky legs. Another favorite was "Gristlehead"; His own made up monster. There were several times we would spend time on a Saturday at his work (Rock City or Parts and Equipment) when he had extra to do. We would be skating in the warehouse or playing hide and seek between the shelves of parts, and we would hear his spooky voice over the PA system teasing that Gristlehead was coming. Last but not least is seeing him in His choir robe serving communion. His dedication to worshiping the Lord through choir and his participation in the services (despite his dislike of being on the stage) is a testament to his love of God and his Lord Jesus Christ. When I got older, I couldn't really understand why he was so proud of me (until my own kids started getting older). But it was so apparent. He always swelled with pride when I would bring my own husband and three boys to church with him. And he had a joke he loved about the army girl who kicked everyone's behind. Even recently I was helping him work on something (I had broken) and he wanted me to "push it harder". I just said, "no, don't force it, that's what you always said". He just looked at me with both frustration that I wasn't doing what he wanted, but also pride that I had carried with me a lesson he had taught. I LOVED: playing spades; girls vs. boys whenever we were with mom and dad; Another tree, or bush or tray of flowers brought home for mom for her birthday or anniversary or just because; Coming home from a trip with my family and being surprised by him fixing a broken sink while we were gone; And His encouragement that we could fix or build anything ourselves..."A cinch by the inch". I'm so thankful for these memories and so many more. And I look forward to many more projects that I know he will be helping us with in the future. xoxoxoxox Love you Dad!