Donald L. Carlson, 91, passed away under the loving care of his family on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at UMass Memorial Healthcare University Campus.  Donald was born and raised in Holden, Massachusetts.
Upon graduating from Holden High School, he attended post graduate studies at Worcester Vocational with a concentration in printing.  He worked over 25 years at U.S. Envelope Co. in Worcester as a printer and machinist.  He later worked several years in the maintenance department at the Paxton Center School until retirement. After marrying the love of his life, Jeanine Brown at the Boylston Congregational Church in Boylston, Massachusetts on January 21, 1956, Donald and Jeanine moved to Rutland where they started and raised their family.
Donald was an avid outdoorsman and an extremely hard worker.  He also enjoyed spending time with his family including his grandchildren’s sporting events and family gatherings.  He was a voracious reader and a World War II History buff.  Donald and Jeanine enjoyed going on excursions and various senior-organized bus trips, volunteering at the Rutland Senior Center and going to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.  Being an exemplary example of an extraordinary husband, dad and grandfather was most important to him, and it remained so until his last day with us.  Donald was a true gentleman who loved the simple things in life.  He had an incredible sense of humor that included many personal anecdotes that were thought provoking, funny, silly and sometimes spicy.  He was a great conversationalist and would interject his opinion on the listener with a “Donism” or a humorous short story.  These life lessons sprinkled with humor were the hallmark of Donald’s life – making everyone laugh no matter what the situation.  Mother Teresa once said “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
He will be affectionately remembered and sorely missed by his three children and their spouses, Donna L. Toto and her husband, Keith, David L. Carlson and his wife, Johnna and Doreen E. Dunn and her husband, Kenneth all of Rutland; his six grandchildren, Kyle E. Toto, Matthew D., Daniel C. and Lindsay J. Carlson, Kendra E. and Jared K. Dunn; his cousin, Betty M. (Petterson) Johnson and her husband, David, and their daughter, Tracey Bell; a niece and nephew, Pamela Carey and Arthur “Buddy” Brown; and his faithful cat, “Sammie”.  He was predeceased by his loving wife and best friend, Jeanine O. (Brown) Carlson who died in 2015 after 59 years of marriage; his parents, Charles L. and Irene R. (Jeannotte) Carlson; and his brother, Richard R. Carlson.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Donald’s family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A funeral service honoring his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, at the funeral home, followed by burial in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sterling Animal Shelter, 17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling, MA 01564.  To share a memory or offer a condolence, please “sign the guest book” on this page.