Melvin Ray Carlson

Melvin (Mel) Ray Carlson

Mel Carlson, 84, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, MN. A public visitation and open house will be held at Zaharia Funeral Home (102 East Ciro Street, Truman, MN 56088) from 4 to 7pm on Friday, August 16, 2019. A private service for family and burial at Ridgelawn Cemetery will be held at a later date. Zaharia Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. www.ZahariaFamilyFuneral.com

Born in Gregory County, SD on October 1, 1934 to Carl and Arlene (Norberg) Carlson, Mel spent his early years in South Dakota, but graduated from Fulda High School in 1952 in Fulda, MN, where he met the love of his life, Arlene Marie Langer. Arlene and Mel were married in Fulda on January 31, 1955 at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church and shortly after moved to Mankato, where Mel began a successful 11-year career in automobile sales at Clements Chevrolet. While living in Mankato, five children were born to Arlene and Mel.

In 1966, Mel and Arlene moved to Truman, MN when they purchased the Chevrolet dealership and built Mel Carlson Chevrolet into one of the premier small-town Chevrolet dealerships in southern Minnesota. In his willingness to consider new directions, Mel explored a variety of offerings at his dealership, including Wheel Horse tractors, Polaris snowmobiles, Isuzu and GM trucks, and of course, Chevrolets. The parts department at Mel Carlson Chevrolet expanded to ship parts around the country. Over the years, customers returned again and again to Mel for new vehicles, service, and repair. Mel retired from the business at the end of 2013 after more than 50 years of service to his dealership and to his many, many customers. Mel was a Charter member of the Truman Lion’s Club, the Truman Development Corporation and led more than a dozen annual snowmobiling treks to Yellowstone National Park. He was also proud of his small collection of restored McCormick Farmall tractors, driving them in numerous tractor rides and parades around the region.

Mel was enormously pleased with the accomplishments of his five children and their families. He and Arlene followed their lives with curiosity and great interest. Mel and Arlene were particularly committed to attending events and celebrating milestones of their 14 grandchildren.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Ellen, and a brother Norman. He is survived by his beloved wife Arlene; his children, Kevin Carlson (Eva) of Wilmington, NC; Sandy Wohlfeil (Mike) of Fargo, ND; Sheri Kalb (Bill) of Edina, MN; Dan Carlson (Kim) of Woodbury, MN; Julie Carlson of Emily, MN; fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Also surviving Mel is a brother, Wesley Carlson of Stanton, CA. He is also survived by brother in law James Vaske and sister in law Karen Janssen.

The family requests that memorials be sent to an organization of the donor’s choice.

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