Carlson, Marian Patricia Fitch - 1927-2012

AANES, BAACK, CARLSON, FITCH, RINGER

Posted By: Polk Volunteer
Date: 8/16/2024 at 10:34:33

Marian Patricia "Pat" Carlson, 85, of Des Moines, died Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Edgewater, West Des Moines. Pat was born January 21, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Morgan Lewis and Marian Ringer Fitch. On September 4, 1948, she married Russell E. Carlson in Chicago. He preceded her in death on January 31, 1996.
Pat graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago and moved to Des Moines in 1944. She received a BS degree in Political Science from Drake University in 1948. She returned to Drake University after her husband was diagnosed with MS and received a Masters Degree in Education. She spent 23 years teaching at Hillis, Monroe, Kirkwood and Greenwood Elementary Schools, and at Meredith Jr. High in the Des Moines Public School System, retiring in 1985. She always maintained an active community service life with organizations whose priority was giving help to those in need. She and her husband were very involved for a number of years with the Des Moines Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. She was chairwoman of the Wesley Acres Guild for many years, guiding the Guild in their many activities, including the installation of the stained glass window, and escorting many residents to appointments. She was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Questers, and was a 60 year member of Chapter IJ, P.E.O. She was also a very involved member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, serving on numerous committees for more than 60 years. Pat loved to travel, and had made numerous trips to Europe, Russia, and across the United States, with Friendship Force, Elderhostels, and with family. Education was an important part of her life and she was always eager to learn or teach something new.
Pat is survived by one son, Dr. Russell E. (Carol) Carlson of Clive; two daughters, Susan (Steven) Aanes of New London, and Christine (Dan) Baack of Norwalk; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Morgan (Helen) Fitch of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and James (Beth) Fitch of Orland Park, Illinois; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one daughter, Catherine Ann, and one brother, Charles R. Fitch.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, October 26, 2012 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 5720 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines. The Rev. Dr. Georgia L. Humphrey will officiate. There will be a luncheon immediately following the service at the church. Private family burial will be in Masonic Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 3 p.m., Thursday, October 25 at Westover Funeral Home, 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines, with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. At Pat's request, memorials have been established to Iowa Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wesley Acres Good Samaritan Fund, and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, in lieu of flowers. Pat's family would like to give special thanks to the staff on Powell 4 at Methodist Hospital, Dr. Lynn Struck, Emily Fect, the staff at Edgewater skilled nursing - Blue Stem Cottage, Wesley Life Hospice Care and all of her many friends that have been loving and loyal throughout the years.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Friday, October 26, 2012, page 7B