Gene Carlson

Lawrence Eugene “Gene” Carlson, 86, of Ottumwa died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at his home.

Limited open visitation for friends will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at Reece Funeral Home. Limited family will be present to greet friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. The family asks those attending to respect the social distance of others and that mask be required. Online condolences may be left at www.rfh-ia.com.

Private funeral services will be at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Ottumwa Cemetery.

Those unable to attend may watch the livestream service 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, or Ottumwa YMCA Foundation.

Gene was born June 25, 1934, in Creston to Lawrence Jay and Leonora Etheline Nelson Carlson. He married Gloria Kay Vetterick Aug. 10, 1956.

A 1952 graduate of Creston High School, Gene attended Iowa State University and Drake University, earning a B.S. degree in pharmacy in 1957. He served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1957 to 1962 and spent six months on active duty. Gene and Kay moved to Ottumwa in March of 1957, where he worked for Southside Drug until purchasing the business in 1967.

Gene was a member of First Lutheran Church and Rotary Club of Ottumwa. He served on the board of South Ottumwa Savings Bank for 40 years, the Iowa board of National Foundation for Independent Businesses, the boards of American Home Finding Association, Wapello County Department of Public Health, Ottumwa YMCA, IHCC Boosters and South Ottumwa Boosters, where he also had served as president.

He was a founding member of the Iowa Pharmacist Association Board of Trustees as well as a member of the State of Iowa Pharmacy Board. He was also a founding member of the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s Club, a major supporter of Ottumwa events including Ottumwa Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Ottumwa Pro-Balloon Races as well as a RAGBRAI sponsor and host.

Gene was a conservationist, focusing on environmental stewardship. He was instrumental in the Kettle Creek watershed flowing into the Oxbow lagoons around Ottumwa Park.

Surviving him is his wife, Kay; their children: Ann (Dr. Craig) Alexander of Leawood, Kansas, Eric (Lynette) Carlson of Ottumwa and Hallie Kay (Todd) Patterson of Tucson, Arizona; eight grandchildren: Elise, Elizabeth, Maddie, Nick, Chloe, Clair, Caroline and Ellen. He was a strong encourager and supporter of his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.