Lawrence "Larry" William Carlson

Lawrence “Larry” William Carlson, formerly of Riggsville, passed away the afternoon of October 10, 2025 at McLaren Northern Michigan of Petoskey with family by his side.  Larry is at peace after a few years of battling several painful chronic conditions.

He was born November 4, 1949 in Cheboygan to Harold Carlson and Laurel Ruth (nee Koepke) Carlson, the second of four boys.  Larry was raised on the family farm on Riggsville Road, often recalling how it was still gravel when he was a kid.  Other childhood adventures included riding his bike up the hill to watch I-75 being built and playing neighborhood baseball with a fence post for a bat, possibly breaking a window in the process. He attended the Munro North one-room schoolhouse through 4th grade, then Munro South through 8th grade.  Both of these buildings are still standing.  He attended Cheboygan Public High and graduated in 1967.  During high school he was known by the nickname “Lurch”, due to his extreme height and very deep voice, a nickname he hated almost as much as he hated being called Lawrence.  As a child he attended church at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Riggsville Road (the old white church) until it was closed. 

Larry volunteered for duty with the U.S. Army and did a full tour in Vietnam. Upon return to the States, he welcomed his first son, Scott, with Linda (Landrie) Hendrix.  Several years later he married Susan Barber.  After the birth of their first daughter Jennifer, he convinced her they should put a house on the corner of Carlson and Richardson Roads in Riggsville.  He told her they were going to “pave Richardson Road soon”.  They then welcomed Carrie and Bradley and raised their family on the dusty road, always working hard and raising a few animals and some crops annually.

He worked various places over the years: trimming trees for Walt Romanik, installs for Michigan Bell in Petoskey, serving as a prison guard in Marquette, and working at Proctor and Gamble when it was it was at its peak.  He also was caretaker for several properties on Burt Lake in the White Goose Bay area.  In 1984 he obtained his contractor’s license and started his own contracting business while also cooking at the Sand Road Senior center.   Construction took him across the upper peninsula doing weatherization work, which he did for several years until retiring. 

After Larry and Susan divorced he moved to the Upper Peninsula.  After a couple years he settled in Naubinway with Margaret Lesatz.  They enjoyed several years together traveling and camping until she passed.  He enjoyed watching the deer in his backyard, along with the occasional moose, wolf or lynx.  When his grandsons were born he took trips down to visit them in Riggsville weekly, often bringing a delicious dinner with him.  Larry enjoyed camping in the upper peninsula, usually at rustic campgrounds, picking blueberries, going to the casino, driving down two-tracks in the upper peninsula and teasing his son-in-law Harold. 

Larry is survived by his children Scott Carlson, Jennifer Carlson (Harold LaLond), Carrie Carlson (Brian Carmody) and Brad Carlson (Liz Gluchowski), precious grandchildren Waylon Carmody, Nash Carmody, Abbi (Alex) LaLond, Tasha (Gage) Christensen, and great-grandsons Orion Christensen and Atlas Christensen all of Cheboygan; stepdaughter Amy Lesatz of Newberry; his brother Thomas Carlson of Cheboygan; in-laws Lori Carlson, William and Rose Ann Barber, Keith Barber, Paula Barber, Jeri-Lu Barber, and Michael Owens; along with several nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Larry was proceeded in death by his parents, former wife Susan Barber Carlson, girlfriend Margaret Lesatz, brothers Daniel Carlson and Michael “Mickey” Carlson; brother and sister in-laws Cheryl Carlson, James Barber, Mary and Robert Bur, Sally and Vern Hiar, Joesph Barber, Kenneth Barber, Deb Barber, Nancy Owens; nephews  Daniel Carlson, Adam Carlson, Alan Carlson, Rodney Bur and Zachary Barber and niece Tamara Barber Palowski.

The Nordman Christian-Funeral home is handling services for the family. A funeral service will take place at St. Thomas Lutheran Church on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11am with half hour of visitation prior to the funeral. Internment will take place at St. John Cemetery in Riggsville, with a celebration of life immediately following the graveside committal service at the Eagles in Cheboygan

Those wishing to are encouraged to honor Larry with donations to the St. John’s Church of Riggsville Cemetery Fund at 5378 Riggsville Road of Cheboygan, instead of buying a bunch of, as Larry would say, “stinking flowers”.  Please share a memory of him with another and know he is having a cold one in heaven with the rest of those “old Riggsville boys”.

His family wishes to thank all the providers who gave such wonderful care through this. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lawrence "Larry" William Carlson, please visit our floral store.