Joan Carlson

Joan Carlson, age 84, of Pueblo, Colorado passed away peacefully on Thursday January 24, 2019. She is survived by her sons Mark Farmer (Jamie) and Kent Farmer (Kelly), granddaughter Shanna Farmer (Sean Wolff), grandson Brayden Farmer, sister Gailen Schmidt (Karl), and best friend of over 50 years Illona Millison. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Karl "Ozzy" Carlson, her parents Joe and Bonnie Hill, and her twin sister Jean Lynch.

Joan was born on March 6, 1934 in Wichita, Kansas to Joe and Bonnie Hill. She grew up in Medicine Lodge, Kansas and graduated from Medicine Lodge High School in 1952. She moved to Denver to where she met her first husband. After they married, her husband was drafted into the army, and they moved around the country for several years and she had two sons who she absolutely adored.

Once she settled down in Pueblo, she graduated from the School of Cosmetology in 1965 and worked as a cosmetologist for a couple years before she took a job at Southern Colorado State College (now CSU-Pueblo). In 1967, she met and married the love of her life Karl Carlson. She retired from the college in 1985, and she and Karl enjoyed retirement together until his death in 2000.

Joan was accomplished at playing the piano, enjoyed golfing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, and baking. She was a strong, generous, witty, kind person who loved her family dearly. She enjoyed spending time with her friends playing bridge and going out try new and favorite restaurants. Joan spent time as an avid traveler with a group of close friends seeing the world together - from driving up the West Coast on a road trip, to flying in a helicopter over a Hawaiian volcano, to seeing Amsterdam on a barge. She was a fiercely independent woman, who was determined to live her life to the fullest.

Before her passing, Joan had been in a physical therapy rehab center for about six weeks. She had been in failing health for a couple of months, gradually becoming weaker and unable to care for herself. She continued to decline during her stay there, but she really desired to return home and live independently as she had before. She remained lucid and sharp, but her body continued to fail her. It was determined that there was no alternative other than to send her to a nursing home much to her chagrin.

On the very day she was to be transferred she was in seemingly good spirits and was not in any pain or distress. As the discharge nurse was packing up her personal belongings, mom said to her, "I'm going home". The nurse said, "no Joan, you're going to the nursing home". Mom replied, "no, I'm going to heaven". Shortly thereafter, the nurse walked out of her room. When the CNA walked in to check on her five minutes later, Joan was gone; she looked as though she had simply gone to sleep.

Joan truly lived and died the way she wanted to - on her own terms. She had a very strong spirit that lives on in her family. Her family and friends miss her dearly, but have many fond memories of their times with her.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.imperialfunerals.com for her family.