Margaret “Maggie” Carlson, 92, of Cherokee passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, June 17, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Father Dan Rupp officiated. Burial was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cherokee. Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
Margaret (Maggie) Carlson was born on Sept. 21, 1932, to Larry and Mary (McIntee) Lentz in New Hampton. Her school years were spent at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Cherokee. After graduation, she worked at the Cherokee County Courthouse. She met and married the love of her life, Donald (Butch) Carlson, on Oct. 1, 1955, in Cherokee and began her life on the farm where they raised their family.
Maggie and Butch loved dancing and traveled the area with friends, attending many area dances. In her busy life as a mom of seven boys and the wife of a farmer, she learned to "roll with it" and act on the "spur of the moment.” She was a very involved parent as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a CCD teacher for 21 years, chauffer, cheerleader and keeping up with and attending all of the many activities her boys were involved in.
Camping at the lakes, boating, fishing at Spring Lake Park and ice fishing there in the winter, traveling, keeping the men in the fields fed are only some of the many things that kept this amazing lady busy!
This continued as she became a grandma, a role that she embraced to the fullest and was oh so proud of! All of the activities that she did with her boys growing up, she continued with her grandchildren. Camping, fishing, ice skating, spur of the moment road trips, and so many more adventures that made such fun and lasting memories for the next generation. And she was their biggest fan at any and all activities her grandkids were involved in.
Maggie's home was always the gathering place for her kids, grandkids, their friends, family members and her many friends of all ages. A chat, a rousing game of checkers, word games, and of course the Scrabble board was always out. And you always brought your "A" game, ready for the challenge. Add to that, one could always grab from the always full Tootsie Roll tin and there was always a can of Coke in the fridge, BUT only if you were taller than grandma!
If there was ever a time Maggie sat down to watch television, she was watching sports. Her favorites were Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and ISU Cyclones football.
If by chance we didn't find her at home, the first place to check was the IC church basement! Maggie was very involved with CDA, Ladies Union and could always be counted on to help with funeral dinners.
Maggie's great love for her family, her strong faith and her love for her church community was unwavering and the foundation that she based her life on. And it shone brightly in her every day. Maggie/mom/gramma touched so many lives and will be greatly missed. And as her grandchildren say: “Guess what gramma...We LOVE You.”
Maggie was preceeded in death by her husband Donald (Butch) Carlson; her parents, Larry Lentz, Mary Lentz and Marguerite Lentz; sons, Morey and Evan Carlson; sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Donald (Donnie) Durst; brother-in-law Jack Carlson; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Helen and Gene Schmidt; brother-in-laws, John Townsend and Robert (Bob) Johnson.
Mom, gramma and great-gramma will lovingly be remembered by:
Andy (Patti) Carlson, Amie (Tim) Schnoor and children Preston, Nessa, Landry, Crosby and Isla Schnoor, Nicki (Shannon) Frank and children Henry and Charlie Frank.
Tim Carlson and Kelly Carlson, Hunter Carlson and friend Jacob Brouillette, Tanner (Kelsie) Carlson and children Wyatt and Ryder, Cutter Carlson and children Logynn and Lennex.
Barry Carlson and Lisa Carlson, Brandon (Melissa) Carlson and children Harper, Jack and Evan, Jodi (Andy) Thomas and children Remi, Nori, Reid and Ryan, Lynn Carlson.
Daughter-in-law Chris Carlson, Nathan Carlson, Megan (Alex) Struck.
Dana (Deb) Carlson, Cody (Mylinda) Carlson and children Ian and Madelynn, Katrina (Fiance Jarrett Russell) Carlson, Kiersten Carlson and Cayden Carlson.
Daughter-in-law Debbie Carlson.
Paul (Melinda) Carlson.
Sister-in-laws: Margaret Townsend, Ally Johnson and Pat Steigerwald.
Many nieces an nephews. And many wonderful friends.
All of us will miss you dearly!
