Don Carlson

Don Stephen Carlson, 69, of Urbandale passed away on December 26, 2017 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 30 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory in Urbandale. Visitation will be one hour before the service. He will be laid to rest at Glendale Cemetery next to his beloved wife Stella, who passed away on December 25, 2015. Don was born May 3, 1948 in Des Moines and adopted by Elmer and Nora (Ryg) Carlson. He graduated from North High School in 1966 and served in the United States Air Force for four years. He married Stella Velelis on August 24, 1968 and they were married for 47 years until her death. He worked as an alcohol rehabilitation counselor at the Des Moines Veterans Hospital for 32 years, retiring in 2001. He is survived by his son, Steven; brother-in-law, Matt Velelis and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Stella and his parents.