Date of Birth:    July 3, 1929

Place of Birth:   Balaton MN

Born the eighth of nine children, Dr. Carlson was born to Swedish immigrants Joseph Berger Carlson and Edith Anderson Carlson.  Dr. Carlson married Shirley Carlson and had five children.  Dr. Carlson and Shirley were married 47 years before his death in 1999.

Dr. Carlson received his degree from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School in the spring of 1954 and in the fall, moved to Springfield MA for an internship in small animal medicine at Rawley Memorial Hospital.  In 1955, he moved to Springfield MO and leased space from Dr. C.C. Moore to begin practice.  He opened his own practice, Carlson Pet Hospital, in 1960 at the corner of Campbell and Sunshine, where his daughter, Liisa, remains in practice. 

Dr. Carlson and his good friend, James M. Giffin, M.D., co-authored two books, “Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook” and “Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook”, published by Howell Book House in 1980 and 1983 respectively.  In 1981, the dog book received the Dog Writers Association of America’s award for Best Medical book of the Year.

Dr. Carlson was a moving force in organizing Springfield’s Humane Society in 1956, spending countless volunteer hours throughout the years in that association.  Dr. Carlson spoke fluent Swedish, and had a wonderful sense of humor.