Representative John W. Carlsen View All Years

JOHN W. CARLSEN

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable John W. Carlsen, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Mr. Carlsen was born May 15, 1909, in Clinton, Iowa. He was the son of Louis P. and Theresa Will Carlsen. He attended Lyons High School in Clinton and received a degree in physical education at the University of Iowa in 1931 and his law degree in 1937.

He married Betty E. Moffatt, January 29, 1938, in Davenport, Iowa.

Mr. Carlsen was high school instructor and athletic coach in North English High School from 1932 to 1934. He entered the practice of law in Clinton in 1937, and taught and coached football, wrestling and track at Clinton High School until appointed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation May 5, 1941, serving until 1946 when he re-established his Clinton law practice. He was elected mayor of Clinton in 1946, and served as Clinton County Attorney in 1949 and 1950.

Mr. Carlsen was a member of the county and state bar associations, Masonic Lodge, Eagles, Elks and Moose, and the Izaak Walton League.

Mr. Carlsen, a Democrat, served in the Iowa House of Representatives the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh sessions of the General Assembly as representative from Clinton County.

After serving in the legislature, Mr. Carlsen continued his interest in Democratic party politics. He served as assistant county attorney and had been alternate municipal court judge, having been appointed by Governor Hughes and reappointed by Governor Ray.

Mr. Carlsen passed away April 2, 1970. Surviving him are his widow, Betty; two daughters, Mrs. Barbara Kerr of Mount Pleasant and Mrs. Jone Porter of Sanford, Florida; a brother, Oakley Carlsen of Clinton; two sisters, Mrs. Lois Palmer and Mrs. Max Terrock, both of Clinton, and four granddaughters.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-third General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable John W. Carlsen, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

CHARLES H. PELTON,

JOHN CAMP

RAY C. CUNNINGHAM

Committee