Joe Orley Carlson, age 60, of Danube, died Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at Bethesda Care Center in Willmar surrounded by his family and friends.  Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019, at Zion United Methodist Church in Danube. Rev. Lark Carlson Brown will officiate.  Burial will be in Palmyra Methodist Church Cemetery south of Hector. Visitation will be Saturday from 9-11 a.m. at the church in Danube. Arrangements are with Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Renville. MN.

Joe Orley Carlson was born on December 6, 1958, in Olivia, Minnesota to Orley Emil and Doris Ruth (Havens) Carlson.  He grew up in Danube and graduated from Renville High School in 1977. He continued his education at Alexandria Technical College, graduating in 1979, with a degree in finance and credit management.  Joe was united in marriage to Linda Jean Kragenbring on June 30, 1979, in Spicer, Minnesota. Joe’s first career and favorite work was done on his farms where he raised crops and livestock. He utilized his experience on the farm while also working in the agricultural banking industry at several local banks and most recently at Pine Country Bank based in Little Falls.  For many years Joe was active in numerous community organizations, including Renville County Crime Stoppers, the Willmar Eagles Aerie #2334, and was on the Ag Advisory Committee at Ridgewater College in Willmar. He loved camping, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, pulling tabs, playing cards, watching westerns, listening to classic country music, and most of all, restoring his Mustangs. He was proud of his Swedish heritage and loved researching his family tree.  He enjoyed all of his time with his wife and children, 6 grandchildren, brother and sisters, numerous cousins, and customers and friends who he loved like family. They will always remember his quick wit, jokes, and one-liners. He is survived by his wife Linda, his daughters and son: Becky (and Brian) Boll of Darwin, Lynn (and Jeremy) Krause of Vesta, Amanda (and Jamison Youngren) Carlson of Duluth, and Eric Carlson of Cosmos; his grandchildren: Carter, Marshall, Joey, Esmae, Jack, and Henrik; his brother Robert Carlson of Willmar, his sisters: Lark (and George) Brown of New Ulm, and Sue Lundquist of Rosemount; his mother-in-law Therese Kragenbring of Atwater; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carolyn Marie Pitts, and his father-in-law Robert Kragenbring.

Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Renville, MN