Gene Edwin Carlson

Gene Edwin Carlson (77) of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 10, 2024, at his home with his loving family by his side.

Gene was born on September 1, 1946 to Cecil and Marvis (Parker) Carlson of Essex, Iowa. Born in Red Oak, Iowa six weeks premature, Gene was a fighter from the start. The middle (but smaller) of three boys, Gene grew up in Essex with older brother Gerald and younger brother Richard. A proud member of the Essex High School Class of 1964, Gene participated in football, track, and newspaper as a youth.

Gene married Donna Smith on October 29, 1966 and they lived in Des Moines, Iowa until her tragic and untimely death from surgical complications on February 14, 1971.

Gene attended Iowa Barber College, graduating in 1965, and opening his first barber shop in Beaverdale, Iowa that same year. Gene owned “Gene’s Barber Shop” shop until 1974, when he headed to Arizona, where he continued to cut hair at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and later in Green Valley, Arizona. Gene returned to Iowa the following year, but his barbering career was cut short when he was involved in a motorcycle accident in June 1975, which left his right arm paralyzed. Despite adversity, Gene reinvented himself and worked in medical supplies, real estate, and for companies including Bermex/MidAmerican Energy and Ruan Transportation before retiring.

Fortunately for Gene, he had met a nurse in 1972, and after returning to Iowa, married that nurse—Kathy McCann on November 27, 1976. They were married at Urban Heights Evangelical Covenant Church, in Urbandale, Iowa, where Gene was a charter member.

On May 4, 1980, Gene and Kathy welcomed daughter Sara, via adoption. Like many other things in Gene’s life, Sara’s adoption was an arduous, but rewarding battle.

Upon Sara’s arrival, Gene had a buddy with whom to share his love of motorcycles, bowling, fishing, cribbage, being outdoors (especially on a warm day), yard care (he was serious about pulling weeds), and college football —especially the Oklahoma Sooners, Iowa State Cyclones and eventually the Iowa Hawkeyes (Sara’s alma mater). Perhaps more than any other interest, Gene loved cars, especially vintage ones, with his favorite being the silver 2-door 1964 Studebaker Avanti he owned in his younger years.

Gene will be remembered by family, friends and acquaintances alike for his warm greetings, friendly smile and joking demeanor. Gene was always quick with a joke or a quip and loved to make people laugh and brighten their day. He especially loved joking and teasing with children—especially his daughter, nieces and nephews, as Gene was genuinely a kid at heart. Nothing proved this more than his lifelong favorite meal of a cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake.

Gene is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kathy, daughter Sara of Chicago, Ill., brothers Gerald (Barbra) Carlson of Norman, Okla. and Richard (Patricia) Carlson of Mt. Vernon, Ill. and a multitude of beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his first wife (Donna Smith), his parents (Cecil and Marvis), his close friend Roger Rickers (Joanne) and his little canine buddies Hawkeye and Trooper.

Services will be Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 1:00-3:00pm at Caldwell Parrish - Urbandale at 8201 Hickman Road in Urbandale, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00pm, with a memorial service to follow at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following organizations in Gene’s honor: Twin Lakes Bible Camp, DMARC Food Pantry, or Mary’s Helping Hands of Iowa.