Fourteen year old Bob Carlson was expected to die on September 8, 1942. He had been shot by bandits eight days earlier as his family traveled in Northwest China. After abdominal surgery under kerosene lantern light followed by a severe allergic reaction, his parents were told that he would not likely live beyond that day. They prepared to say good bye to a third child after losing their first two children to disease while also overseas.  But Bob's time was not done. We, his family, are grateful for the 77 additional years he was given! He went to his true Home from his earthly home on November 25, 2019. He was 91.

Robert Dean Carlson was born in Wheaton Illinois on July 2, 1928 to Edwin and Carol Carlson. The Carlsons were missionaries on the Chinese-Tibetan border. His parents set off to return to China when Bob was six weeks old. In those days, the trip took weeks and involved cars, ships, trains, mulecarts and horseback.

The family lived in several towns in Gansu Province, China. Bob's little sister Carol Jean was born four years later in a small Tibetan village.  Bob's encounter with the bandits happened as his family was taking him to school in the province next to Gansu. Needless to say, he got to school late that year.

In 1944, the Carlsons bought a house in Wheaton just down the street from Bob's grandparents. When Edwin and Carol returned to the field, they began renting their home to other furloughing missionaries. Bob and his sister remained in the house while they were attending high school and college.

Reuben and Grace Larson, who were missionaries in Ecuador, eventually rented the house. They got a place to live and a future son-in-law in the bargain. Their daughter, Peggy Jo Larson, became Mrs. Robert Carlson a year after she and Bob graduated from Wheaton College in 1951. That house became their home for majority of the 67 years they were married.

Bob had two distinct careers. His B.A. and Masters degrees at Wheaton College prepared him to be a New Testament Greek teacher. He taught at Wheaton and at the Alliance Bible Seminary in Hong Kong. After seven years in Hong Kong, the family, now numbering six, came back to Wheaton. Another short stint on the Wheaton faculty was followed by a major vocational change.

Bob had worked as a land surveyor at Webster & Assoc. while he was in school. Surveying now became his primary work. He became a Registered Surveyor and eventually a partner at Webster, McGrath & Carlson.

But he was always a teacher. Whether it was tutoring Greek students, helping others at Websters or just making sure his kids understood Geometry, he taught. As he neared retirement, he completed yet another degree, in TESOL. He co-taught the Greek Class at College Church for more than 30 years. In retirement, he enjoyed tutoring Greek just for the love of it.

Bob is survived by his dear wife Peggy. Bob and Peggy have four children, Bobbi (Steve) Johnson, Eric (Lorraine), Ted (Cindy), and Carrie. They have 11 grandchildren. His beloved sister, Carol Jean (Bob) Wenninger survives him as well.

A memorial service will be held at College Church, Washington and Seminary St., Wheaton on Saturday, January 11 at 1:30 p.m. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service from 12:00 noon and after the service.

Memorial Gift Information:

The Comunidad de Estudios TeológicosInterdisciplinarios (CETI) contributes, as an interdisciplinary and innovative community, to doing theology from life in order to nurture holistic, authentic, and transformative forms of living out the Kingdom of God and God's justice in the Latin American context. We long to see Christian communities and individuals who live the Gospel holistically in all of the spheres of knowledge and human life in the midst of Latin American realities. CETI is a program of the International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT), a 501c (3) organization registered in the U.S. To make a donation online please click here . To send in a check, please use the following information:

Check should be payable to: INFEMIT

Please write on the memo line: Deposit to INFEMIT: Bob Carlson Memorial Gift to CETI

Mail to the following address:

Sun Federal Credit Union

Attn: Member Service Representative

1735 Market Street; Suite C-16

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Alternatively, a gift to WFMT, Chicago's classical music station would be very fitting in that it was on in Bob's home from morning till night.