Bruce Loen Carlson was born in Wadena, Minnesota on March 21, 1947 to Richard F. Carlson and Irene Carlson. He was the second child of six. He grew up on a farm near Hewitt, Minnesota and attended grade school in the Hewitt public school. He Graduated from Bertha Hewitt High School in 1965. He then attended the Staples Technical School and studied tractor mechanics. He started working at Kruger Brothers in Cambridge MN. From there he enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to Fort Campbell for basic training. He was then sent to Fort Polk for wheeled vehicle training. He then went to Vietnam for 18 months where he served as a heavy equipment mechanic at Long Bien. Coming back to the states he served at Fort Sill until 1971 when he was discharged.
Bruce was baptized July 5, 1969 at the Moe Lutheran Church in Roseau, MN.
In 1968 he met the love of his life, Peggy LaRae Carlson and married her July 5, 1969 at the Moe Lutheran Church in Roseau Minnesota when on leave from Vietnam. He then went back to Vietnam for 6 months. After his overseas stint he and Peggy went to Fort Sill Oklahoma until his active duty was completed. He had many awards and was discharged as a E5.
He then moved to Cokato Minnesota in 1971 and worked for Ray Kaczmarek at Cokato Implement for many years. He worked at Mid-State Equipment and then went on his own as Bruce Carlson Tractor Repair. He was a talented and gifted mechanic. Even after he was no longer able to work people would call him for advice. Usually, he would ask them what the tractor sounded like and he could tell them where to look for the trouble. It always amazed his wife when he did that! He worked hard but enjoyed the work. He worked on and restored many antique tractors which were his pride and joy.
Bruce worked part time as the supervisor at the local skating rink enjoying the kids, tightening and tying skates and even feeding kids at times. It was a job he loved. The kids and parents still remember him.
In 1978 Bruce and Peggy adopted a son, David Loen Carlson. He was 5 years old at the time. Our life was completely changed! We loved him very much and liked to see him succeed in life. He was killed in a car accident in 1995 which was very traumatic for us.
Bruce’s leg broke closing the garage door at his shop in 2014, no fall, just broke. That was start of the decline of his health. Infection took over and he fought that through two knee replacements and two rod insertions. It caused breathing and heart problems too. An orthopedic doctor told him that any doctor who had worked with the leg would never forget his case. Peggy was his caretaker through it all and did it willingly and lovingly. He died suddenly July 20, 2023 at the Cokato Manor. It was a blessing to both of us, we were both tired.
Bruce is survived by his wife Peggy, an Aunt Deloris Lacina, Siblings Diane (Merle) Buchan of Elk River, Trudy (Jay) Hervey of Cambridge, Kimbal Carlson of Cambridge, and Tamara (Lee) LeVesseur of Blaine and an Aunt Deloris. He is further survived by Brothers-in Law Collin (Doreen) Jensen, Roseau, Dale (Angela) Jensen, Lonsdale, and Sheryl Carlson, his sister-in-law. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Those proceeding him in death were his son, David Loen Carlson, his parents, Richard and Irene Carlson, his brother, Ricky Carlson, nephew, Adam Derro, Niece. Carrie LeVesseur and great nephew Justin Carlson. His father and mother-in-law Jack and Louella Jensen also proceeded him in death.
Thank you for customers, friends and relatives who supported him over the years for your visits and phone calls.
A funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Stockholm Lutheran Church (16133 County Road 30 SW Cokato, MN 55321) Visitation will be on Monday, July 31 from 6-8 PM at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continue 1 hr. prior to services at the church on Tuesday. www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534