Vilma Gizella Carlson

November 30,2016. Vilma was born of Hungarian parents on February 14, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. She

was preceded in death by her parents Vilma (Csonka) and John Butcher Jr. as well as her loving husband

of forty years, Roger A. Carlson. Vilma is survived by her sister Elizabeth A. Fox, of Kalamazoo, MI,

children; Peter J. (Linda) Carlson of Ravensdale WA, Susan Vilma (David) Carlson, of Joliet IL, Eric R.

(Robin) Carlson of Elizabeth Co, Sally A. (Ronald) Campagni of Franklin TN, Timothy A. (Carol)

Carlson of Ada MI, Robert A. (Jayne) Carlson of Grafton OH, Scott M. (Abbiola) Carlson of Hershey

PA. Her family legacy continues with 17 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and

nephews.

Vilma grew up on the south side of Chicago near Lake Michigan with her large extended Hungarian

family fostering her strong family values that she exemplified and nurtured in her children and their

families throughout her life. Vilma attended Myra Bradwell elementary school in Chicago which was

named after America's first women lawyer. After graduating from South Shore High School in Chicago,

Vilma completed her undergraduate degree in English and Spanish at Ripon College, WI, in 1951. Vilma

and Roger were married in Chicago in 1952 and moved to Michigan to begin their careers as educators.

Vilma was a lifelong educator and world traveler, beginning with U.S. State Department assignments in

Guam in 1959 with Roger as a High school principal and Vilma teaching adult education, accomplished

while caring for their five children ages 3 and under. After two years in Guam and a brief stay in Chicago

they returned to Breckenridge, MI, then Rose City, MI, where Vilma continued to stay involved in

church, teaching, and the PTA, all while now raising six children. Their journeys led them through all

fifty States, and six continents.

After moving to Bath, MI in 1966 she met wonderful friends through Home Extension, school, and

church prayer groups. In ]976, along with three teenagers and Scott, they made their way to Tekonsha

where Vilma taught High school English and Spanish for ten years.

After retiring, Vilma continued to travel the country and the world often visiting friends and relatives,

until her final journey home to heaven. Vilma was recently looking forward to a trip to the Panama Canal

with her children.

Vilma was a devout Christian, active in church, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir; she was

involved in community events, supported local businesses and a volunteer in the Coldwater hospital. She

was a life member ofthe Girl Scouts Council as well as an adult leader. Vilma was an avid bird watcher,

passionate about sharing what she saw from her backyard window and exclaiming what a delight to be

watching nature's television.

She led her life with generosity, vigor, enthusiasm, optimism, and joy, making every opportunity an

adventure in love and life. Her strength and faith were matched only by her curiosity for all things and

love of family and God.

A memorial Celebration of Vilma's Life will be held at the First Baptist Church, 914 N. Main St.,

Tekonsha, MI 49092 on Wednesday, December 28,2016, at 200 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials may be made in memory of Vilma Carlson to the

Tekonsha Alumni Scholarship Fund, 245 South Elm St. Tekonsha MI 49092 or the First Baptist Church

of Tekonsha Education Scholarship Fund, 914 N. Main St., Tekonsha, MI 49092