Marian Carlson

Marian Lucille Moxon Carlson was born at home, on her family’s farm near Sparta Michigan, on November 3, 1921. She joined two older brothers as the first daughter born to Clair and Esther Moxon. During kindergarten, their growing family moved to Grand Rapids, where her father went from farmer to United States postal carrier. Marian’s family joined the Swedish Mission Covenant Church, where some services were still held in Swedish. As the years went on, four more children joined the family to create a closely-knit group of seven siblings: Vincent, Franklin, Virginia, Milton, Alice, and Patricia. Marian, as the eldest daughter, was a big help to her mother, soon cooking and baking and taking on various household responsibilities.

The year 1939 was a significant year for Marian. She graduated from Union High School, where she was in the National Honor Society. During a sleigh ride event with the church’s Young People’s Society, a game left her holding hands with a certain young man, and they would end up holding hands for the rest of her life.

During World War II, her beloved sent daily letters from the Pacific and she kept busy answering those letters. On October 27, 1945, Oscar and Marian were joined in marriage and their love story continued for nearly 69 years.

Christmas came early in 1948, when their son Ron was born. Not long after, a second son, David joined them. Marian kept busy running the house with days designated for tasks: laundry day, baking day, and so on. The addition of a daughter, Jan, made their family complete.

Like most women of her generation, Marian didn’t work outside of the home, but did she ever work inside her home. She did laundry and hung the clothes outside. She canned countless jars of fruit: plums, applesauce, jams; jar after beautiful jar. She froze freshly picked fruits and vegetables. She baked cookies, pies, Swedish cardamom bread, Parker House rolls, and fruit cobblers. She cooked meals, made lunches, and planted and tended beautiful gardens. She was an artist and her canvas was her home and her family.

Marian is well remembered for her gift of hospitality. If there was a missionary in town, a traveling choir group, family members, friends, or even friends of friends, they stayed with the Carlsons. She hosted school teachers every spring for lunch and organized traditional Christmas Eve smorgasbords. She pulled together Thanksgiving dinners for the multitudes without breaking a sweat. For years, the table stretched from the sunroom through the dining room and into the living room and all were welcome. She loved without reservation. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews…all gave her such joy. She loved her family.

Marian was so devoted to making the last years of both her Mother's and Father's lives meaningful with coffee visits and outings as they were able. Even as adults, Marian and her siblings (and their families) enjoyed a lot of time together; playing games, camping, preserving food, and endless slide shows. Spending time with family also included the practical tasks of blueberrying and apple picking, often with multiple generations. These outings always had to include an afternoon coffee break. In fact, every afternoon had a coffee time and anyone was welcome to drop in for a visit.

Marian loved to travel and planned trips so they could visit family and friends along the way. Summer jaunts pulling a travel trailer included visits to National Parks, the Nation’s Capital, and a trip around Lake Superior. After retirement, Oscar and Marian continued to travel. In addition to visiting destinations, they always made a point of spending time with family, even in Sweden, Alaska, and Hawaii.

If you wanted to find Marian and she wasn’t at home, she was most likely at church. Her roles over the years included youth group leader, Sunday school teacher, Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp counselor, and deaconess. She served in the Mary Elizabeth Circle, helped plan 50+ events, was a food pantry worker, and most recently, volunteered at Kids’ Food Basket. Some of her deepest friendships came from the times she enjoyed with their small group Bible study. Daily, Marian and Oscar prayed for their siblings, each child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and nieces and nephews by name as well as prayers for the church, pastors, missionaries, the nation, and world events.

These last years were more challenging for Marian. She endured many aches and pains. But each limitation was met with the determination, grace and beauty that radiated throughout her life. With Oscar by her side, they made the complete couple. They complimented each other well and continued to be surrounded by love and support from their extended family and friends. Oscar and Marian always left church holding hands and during the closing hymn they would face each other, hands held, look in each others' eyes and sing "May the Lord bless you and keep you..." Just that look was enough to melt hearts.

CARLSON Mrs. Marian Lucille Carlson, age 92 of Grand Rapids has been received into the banquet hall of heaven, on Wednesday October 8, 2014 and the banner over her head is “love.” Marian is survived by her husband of 69 years Oscar; her children Ron & Vicki Carlson, Dave & Nancy Carlson and Janice Carlson; grandchildren Dale, Lisa, Ryan, Linnea, Christine, Daniel, Ariadhine; great grandchildren Jack, Amelia, Rhys; her brothers and sisters Virginia (Maynard) Anderson, Milton Moxon, Alice (Robert) Nelson, Patricia Martin; and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends may visit with her family on Sunday October 12, at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday October 13, at First Evangelical Covenant Church, 933 Tremont St NW. Contributions in her memory to First Evangelical Covenant Church Memorial Fund are appreciated. To sign Marian’s guest book and to leave a memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com