Bob Carlson, age 76, a resident of West Chicago, IL, died March 7, 2016 of complications from prostate cancer at Central Dupage Hospital in Winfield, IL.

Bob was born in Geneva, IL one of the seven children born to John Wesley Carlson and Eleanor Case Carlson. He lived all of his life in the environs of Wheaton, IL, raising his three children with his wife and high school sweetheart, April Dennis Carlson. He was an athlete, gifted particularly in baseball as a pitcher and shortstop and in football as a quarterback. In his later years, while struggling to climb the bleachers to watch his grandchildren play basketball, soccer, baseball or football he would intone, "I used to be a slick-fielding shortstop." Indeed his sense of humor and self-deprecating one-liners were the hallmark of his personality.

A commissioned salesman all of his life, which began at age eight with an egg route, Bob owned his own business for more than 35 years as a manufacturer's representative for women's accessories working out of the Apparel Center in Chicago.

Bob was a person who had a strong faith in his Father in Heaven and who was awed by the grandeur of creation. Many vacations were spent in the mountains of Colorado, winter and summer where he relished their beauty, back-packing children and then grandchildren up into the high country. He and April simply loved attending every possible concert, dance recital or athletic event in which their family was involved. He interacted with the parents and friends of his children and grandchildren with humor, interest, kindness and grace. Even the last week of his life, while facing impossible physical challenges he gave to the many loved ones and friends who gathered around his bedside that same humor, kindness and grace.

He is survived by his wife, April Dennis Carlson of West Chicago, his daughter Dawn (David) Rosenberger of Winfield and Tempe, AZ, his daughter Kathleen (Drew) Gosling of Wheaton, and his son Barrett (Erica) Carlson of Glen Ellyn, IL, his sister Pat (Vern) Geurkink, his brother David (Linda) Carlson, his sister Betty Carlson and his sister Susan (Geoffrey) Cronk.  He is the grandfather of 11, the great-grandfather of two.

A visitation will be held Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton, IL from 3:00-9:00. A Memorial Service will be held at Immanuel Presbyterian Church 29 W 260 Batavia Road, Warrenville, IL on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to:
Sports Ministries, Inc.
P.O Box 1041
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-690-7819

Outreach Community Ministries
122 West Liberty Drive
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-682-1910