Obituary

Theodore Armour Carlson, 90, of Rockford, passed away in his home on October 16, 2024. He was born on January 4, 1934, in Rockford, the son of Armour L. and Gladys A. (Magnuson) Carlson. Graduate of East High School, Class of 1953. He served in the US Army in Korea from 1956 to 1958. In 1947 his parents moved to a farm. Ted loved those years, riding his Schwinn bike up a long lane to get the cows that were in a small woods. He loved his farm dogs, cats, and quarter horse, King. He fixed up their yard planting flowers and shrubs. This interest led him to work for a landscape architect. Wanting to do more with his artistic ability, Ted enrolled in the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His first job was working for White Way Sign Company in Chicago. After moving back to Rockford he worked for Sundstrand as an artist illustrator. Eventually he became a freelance artist completing many industrial, retail, and architectural projects. Ted was an accomplished watercolor artist having won many awards at the art shows that his paintings were exhibited at.

Ted wrote many letters in his later years to family and friends as a way to keep in touch, as a thank you, or simply to write about things that interested him. He loved the word gratitude and often used it in his letters. He liked to talk about it and how pleasing and uplifting it made him feel. Gratitude, a response to kindness and blessings received in our lives. He wanted others to feel that way too.

Ted enjoyed family get-togethers and all the good Swedish food that went along with them. He liked sitting in the yard and listening to the birds while enjoying his faithful companions Dakota and Mya. Ted was the most loving father and grandfather who had the kindest heart and the gentlest soul. He loved watching his grandsons Jayden and Bode grow up. And being uncle Ted to all of his nieces and nephews.

Ted is survived by his daughter Jenny (Daniel) Koenings; grandsons Jayden and Bode Koenings; many special nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends Jerry and John. He is predeceased by his parents; and sisters Jayne Borden and Carolyn Peterson.

A special thank you to Northern Illinois Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion they provided to Ted and his family.

Private burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the family to plant a tree in Ted’s honor next spring.