Obituary of Alice Calrson

Alice Ona Carlson, daughter of Melvin and Ona Rockwell died Sunday, June 3, 2012 at the age of 88 at St. Joseph?s Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin. She was born April 4, 1924 at the family farm house in Richland Co., WI. Because the farm was too far from the local school, she left home at 14 to live with a family in town so that she could attend Richland Center High School. After graduating, she attended Richland County Normal (now the University of Wisconsin at Richland). This qualified her to teach in a one-room country school for two years. She then went to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she married (LaVaughn Carlson, 1948), had a son (Ken Carlson, 1949) and graduated (1951), often taking the baby to class with her. After raising her son, she returned to work, first as a children?s librarian at the T. B. Scott Public Library, then as a third grade teacher at Two-Mile School, both in Wisconsin Rapids. In 1967 she became the first librarian at the Port Edwards Elementary School, where she worked from the day it opened until she retired. She loved children and books, and bringing the two together brought her joy each day. In addition to her husband of 64 years and her son, she is survived by a daughter-in-law, Niza and two grandchildren, Eric and Kirsten. One brother, Herbert Rockwell, and two sisters, Marilyn Sealey and Linda Polesky, also survive her. A brother, Roland Rockwell, and a sister Lou Ann Rockwell, preceded her in death. Alice had many talents, hobbies, and interests. She was a very active member of her church, teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Awana. She truly had a heart for children and the needy. She provided a foster home for two children, and her home was always open for someone who needed shelter and food. She continued to tutor school children long after she retired, and she worked most tirelessly with those who had the most difficulty. She found her guiding principle in James 4:17, ?To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.? Today, antique roses that she collected and cultivated over decades climb the wall of her house, and as long as she could work in her garden, it was filled with flowers and vegetables, both of which she usually gave away. The ones she kept went into memorable meals prepared from her hundreds of cookbooks and family recipes. Until her final illness, she continued to read and organize these recipes, imagining meals she was no longer allowed to eat. However, the greatest passion of her life was to share the salvation message of Jesus Christ with everyone she knew. Alice loved reading her Bible and learning more of God?s Word every day. The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 11 at Taylor Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 10, and from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Monday, June 11. Interment will take place following the funeral service at Richland Cemetery in the Richwood Township, Richland County. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to Greater Point Baptist Church, 4902 County Road HH, Stevens Point, WI. The family thanks the St. Joseph?s Hospital nurses and doctors whose tender, compassionate care supported Alice and us during her last days.