Obituary of Myrtle Carlson

Myrtle Carlson passed away peacefully on July 24th, 2017 at Franciscan Health Center in Duluth, MN. She was born Myrtle Magnolia Goetzinger on April 1, 1912. She was an accomplished pianist and all who knew her loved and remembered her playing the piano for singalongs at family events. She was truly gifted as a musician, and her favorite piano pieces were by Chopin. She attended Duluth Central High School, graduating in the Class of 1929. Following that she entered nurses' training and was a graduate of the St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in the Class of 1934. She married Del V. Carlson on May 3, 1939. Son Dennis was born in 1939, followed by Claudia five years later. Del and Myrtle owned a log cabin on a small lake north of Duluth, and their favorite times were spent there enjoying the woods, the lake and the family who gathered to join them there. Nursing was a true passion for Myrtle, and she worked many years in the ER at St. Luke's in the early part of her career. After taking years off to raise her son and daughter, she returned to her profession, eventually becoming the head of the Outpatient Department of Nopeming Sanitarium in Duluth, and she retired from there in 1972. She and Del were devoted grandparents and often took their four granddaughters for extended camping trips in northern Minnesota, and for Christmas pool parties at downtown hotels. Together they gave wonderful memories to the four girls, who still talk and laugh about the fun they had with Grandma and Grandpa. Myrtle broke her neck in a car accident at age 93, which all feared would take her life, but her iron will and independence carried her through, and she lived on to the age of 105. She is survived by her daughter, Claudia Carlson Cavanaugh (John) of Cumberland, WI, her daughter-in-law Caroline Carlson (Dennis) of Duluth, and her four granddaughters, Shelley Rothstein (Joe) of Champlin, MN, Laurel Davis (Scott) of Duluth, Sarah Johnson (Dave) of Chaska, MN and Tracy Krueger (Brad) of Trempealeau, WI. She also had great grandchildren... Spencer and Abbey Davis, Elijah, Elizabeth and Nathaniel Rothstein, Kate Johnson, and Cameron and Rory Krueger. She was preceded in death by her husband Del, her son Dennis, sister Marjorie, parents Henry and Mary Goetzinger. Services will be held Saturday August 19, 2017 at 1:30 pm at Asbury United Methodist Church.