Arnold Russell Carlson

Arnold Russell Carlson of Venice, Florida and formerly of Stoneham, Massachusetts, passed away August 17, 2016 at the Tidewell Englewood Hospice House.
The son of Carl Johan and Tekla Sandberg Carlson, Arnold was born August 7, 1928 in Medford, Massachusetts. After graduating from Medford High School in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Korea as part of the World War II occupying forces. He attended Upsala University in East Orange, New Jersey, studying engineering before he was again called to serve with the Army in Panama during the Korean War.
Arnold met the love of his life, Marie Murray, on a church trip to Mount Monadnock. They married September 4, 1954 at the historic Mary Martha Chapel in Sudbury, and settled in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Arnold attended Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woburn, chaired Stoneham’s Finance and Advisory Board, was a Shriner, a 33 degree Mason, and Past Master of Samuel Crocker Lawrence Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed gardening, sailing, vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee, and winter sports with his children.
On November 22, 1973, tragically, Marie died and Arnold began the challenge of raising four children on his own. It was not easy and he often said he was lucky to have the support of family and friends.
Arnold invested his money carefully and regularly. As a result, he was proud to be able to retire at age 56. He moved to his paradise, Venice, Florida, where he enjoyed collecting sharks teeth on the beach, sharing potluck dinners with his Swede-Finn community, playing horseshoes and cribbage with friends and watching beautiful sunsets.
Arnold was proud of his Scandinavian heritage. With the help of his dear friend, Jean Heuman, Arnold researched his genealogy. He traveled to Sweden and Finland in 1995 to meet first cousins. Then, in 1997, Arnold was thrilled to find lost relatives in Australia. After his visit to meet them, he wrote a piece called, “Finding Relatives Down Under.” The story was published and he traveled again to Finland in 2005 to present the story at a meeting of the Aland Islands’ Emigrant Institute.
Arnold is survived by his children: Alisa Carlson, of Venice, Florida and Norwich, Connecticut, Nancy Carlson Badger, of Sedona, Arizona, David Carlson, of North Reading, Massachusetts, and Kristin Kaye (husband, Michael), of Winchendon, Massachusetts. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Lauren Carlson Burhans (husband, Ryan), Zachary Carlson Kuzel, Dylan Badger, Emily Badger, Bianca Carlson, Tyler Carlson, Travis Tenney, Lindsey Tenney, and Justyn Kuzel (husband Ryan Cassell). He was pre-deceased by his siblings, Enar Carlson, Lillian Sandberg, and Carl Sandberg, and by a grandson, Nicholas Kuzel.
Arnold will be buried with Marie at Puritan Lawn Cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts. Private services will be held at a later date.