Jerry Martin Carlson

Jerry was born on September 4, 1939, in Shenandoah, Iowa. His mother, Martha, and his father, Norman, were second generation immigrants from Germany and Norway and owned a small 140-acre farm in Yorktown, Iowa. Jerry was the oldest of four siblings and started helping his father with the farmwork from a young age, but he knew early on he didn’t want to be a farmer.

In high school, he was a top student and a gifted athlete on the basketball, football and track teams. His basketball teammates lovingly called him the “Pig Farmer.” In his final year of high school, he met the love of his life, Barbara Engstrom, a cheerleader who also lived on a nearby farm. He was drawn to her beauty and her intelligence, and soon after graduating from Clarinda High School in 1957, he proposed to her at a drive-in theater.

He saved up money he earned from stripping bluegrass to buy the ring. They married in 1959, when she was 19 and he was 20.

After high school, Jerry entered the Lutheran Seminary to become a minister, but he soon realized that wasn’t his path. He and Barbara set their sights on California, a place they had never visited but that seemed full of opportunity. After a year of working and saving money, they packed all their belongings in a second-hand oldsmobile, and drove west.

That was the first of many rewarding leaps into the unknown that Jerry took throughout his life. Though he and Barbara had little money, they were both awestruck by California’s scenery and carefree way of life and felt they were living the dream. Jerry, who was fascinated by the scientific breakthroughs in space exploration of the time, decided to study electrical engineering at California State College at Long Beach. Barbara worked as a secretary to put him through school.

When he graduated with honors in 1963, Jerry accepted a job as a junior engineer with the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in San Jose, California. He spent the next 34 years working at IBM in a distinguished career that sent him traveling all over the world.

He and Barbara had three children: Chris, Stacey and Kimberly. Jerry worked long hours, but he was immensely proud to be able to provide for his family, often putting the needs of others before himself.

Jerry was famously frugal, but generous. He loved to pick up the tab for a nice family dinner, but wouldn’t pass up the chance to get an early bird discount. He had a surprising, dry sense of humor, and loved to tease and joke with strangers. He adored Barbara and depended on her optimism to help him see the beauty and possibility in life; she was a dreamer, he was a realist. Over 67 years of marriage, Jerry and Barbara modeled a partnership that was loving, supportive, adventurous and full of humor.

Outside of his work, Jerry devoted much of his time to improving himself and his community with the Creative Initiative Foundation, and later to speaking out against nuclear weapons and warfare with the group Beyond War. He was open-minded and curious, and believed in the power of individuals to effect change.

In 1980, Jerry and his family moved to Austin, because he was chosen to create one of the first computer manufacturing facilities in Texas, for IBM. He quickly came to love Austin – its unique culture and strong sense of community – and he got involved in local causes, making many lifelong friends and laying down roots in the city that would become home for the rest of his life.

Jerry was passionate about public education, and while at IBM he started an initiative to improve computer science education, called Project A+. As part of this program, IBM donated 1,500 computers to Austin’s schools. He was also elected to the Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees, where he served as vice president for four years. Jerry offered each of his children the gift of education and funded their college and graduate careers. Seeing them navigate a complicated world with grace, love and kindness was Jerry’s greatest joy.

In 1991, in recognition of his contributions to the city of Austin and his leadership at IBM, Jerry was surprised and honored to be named “Austinite of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce.

After retiring at age 57 from IBM as senior state executive, Jerry and Barbara began a new chapter focused on traveling around the world and spending quality time with each other, friends and family. They bought a home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a stunning view of the Teton mountains. The home became a beloved gathering place for their children and six grandchildren (who knew Jerry as “Papa”) for the next 20 years.

Jerry loved spending time in nature and being active, and often connected with others by hiking, cycling or mountaineering together. He climbed all seven Tetons, summiting the last one at 70 years old. One of Jerry’s proudest accomplishments was climbing to the top of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps with his friend Roger Kintzel.

Jerry also loved watching basketball, learning about the cosmos, and staying informed on politics. His favorite cocktail was a martini, dry, with two olives. He had a sweet tooth, especially for warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. He loved country western music and singing along in a deep, gravely voice to Johnny Cash’s song, “Jackson,” with his grandkids. For years, he woke up every morning before sunrise to jog around Lady Bird Lake in Austin. When a stranger asked him how he was, he’d often reply with a smile: “Fantastic.”

In 2013, Jerry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It was difficult to come to terms with the disease’s effects on his mind and body, but Jerry faced his final years with grace. He was immensely grateful for all the experiences and relationships that gave his life meaning. He was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.

Jerry is survived by his wife Barbara Carlson, his brother Kenny Carlson, his sister Jeannette Fastenau and his children Chris Carlson, Stacey Tompkins and Kimberly Ingwersen, as well as his grandchildren: Max Ingwersen, Savannah Ingwersen, Lucy Tompkins, Mia Tompkins, Zachary Carlson and Devin Carlson.

A celebration of life for Jerry will be held at Weed Corley and Fish, 5416 Parkcrest Dr, Austin, Texas 78731 on November 8, 2024 starting at 3:30 pm CST. The celebration will be available for live streaming and recorded to ensure access for all of Jerry’s loved ones around the world, whenever they are able and ready to celebrate his life. Family and friends are encouraged to share fond memories and pictures on this website prior to and after the event.

In lieu of flowers, Barbara and the family would ask you to consider a donation to Hospice of Austin, by visiting the link below, or mailing your donation to, Hospice of Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin TX 78759 or by planting trees in memory of Jerry by visiting the link below.