Jolene Carlson

Born on August 8, 1944 in Red Oak, Iowa, Jolene was welcomed into a world defined by unconditional love. She felt this love from her dad Russell and her mother Laura, who were her models for how to care for others. For her first twelve years of life, she grew up on a farm where she made hollyhock dolls, learned to love the land, and cared for a pet pig named Fritz. As a child, she was embraced by her extended family, including her beloved Uncle Mel who would secretly take the lutefisk off her plate at Christmas. Her best friends were her older siblings John, Joan, and Judi, who remained her soul-companions throughout her life. They had little, but lived in abundance.

At 18, she traveled to study at Colorado State University. After receiving a master’s degree, she taught Speech and Drama at Kennedy-King and Triton College. In 1971, her sister Joan introduced her to a preacher who had volunteered with SNCC, marched with King, and saw Jesus’ message in the gospels as an urgent call to action to fight racial injustice and inequity. She married that preacher–Richard William Carlson– in November of 1971. He was her soulmate. Their three children, Rachel, Emily, and Andrew were Jolene’s greatest joy. She loved them with the fervor of fire; her passion was rivaled only by their love for her.

In the 1980s, Jolene was called to ministry. She studied at Bethany Seminary in Lombard, Illinois and North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago and was ordained to Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She became pastor of Douglas Park Covenant Church on the Westside of Chicago where she served a diverse congregation that deepened her vocational purpose to learn from all and love without qualification. Jolene was a pioneer in the church who incorporated feminist theology and fierce advocacy for marginalized people in her mission. She later served as Associate Pastor at North Park Church and Associate Superintendent for the Central Conference where she helped plant, counsel, and support countless new ministries. In her later years, she became Executive Director of Ministry Mentors, an organization that paired mentors with pastors to provide encouragement, prayer, and inspiration. Mentoring pastors and providing spiritual direction were lifelong passions and ministries that she was still active in. Most recently, she joyfully served as interim pastor at Resurrection Covenant in Lakeview.

In May, in recognition of her extraordinary service and impact on ministers’ lives, she received an honorary doctorate from North Park Theological Seminary that surprised only her. She continued learning about God throughout her life and was still struck with awe at the miracle of creation. She saw that a tree gave glory to God by being a tree and that you give breath to the divine by being only you.

She loved children, her friends, animals (especially her beloved pets), in-laws, nieces, nephews, the Chicago Cubs, early morning walks, laughing with her family, and each person she met. As Grandma/Mormor, Jolene played on floors and held every story, thought, silly game, and worry with the seriousness of joy. Grandma/Mormor was the sunshine.

Jolene, the Reverend Mother, must have been dipped by the divine in the river of compassion because her care for others was effortless. She was gifted with a humility for which she did not labor. You were not separate from her or God’s love. Everyone was first. She stewarded each of the world’s moments with wonder and replied to its harshness with disarming warmth and brazen tenderness. She didn’t rush. She took the time. She held you in her eyes as long as you needed. Jolene carried the message of love with her at all times and sometimes used her beautiful words to preach it, but she never needed to. Her presence was always enough. Jolene’s bounty of love was as boundless as the sea.

She is survived by her kids Rachel (Clinton), Andrew (Kate), Emily (Matthew), grandchildren Emerson, Liam, Anders, Lucy, and Nils, and her siblings John (Pat) and Judi (Michael). She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, sister Joan, and grandson Jake.

Services to remember and celebrate her life will be held at Anderson Chapel at 5149 N Spaulding Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625 on Saturday September 26, 2026 at 3pm.