Donald John “Don” Carlsen
June 11th, 1936 - March 26th, 2025
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Don's Obituary
Donald “Don” Carlsen, 88, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, April 1st at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI, with Rev. David Colp officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday. Burial will take place at Hickory Bluff Cemetery, 4290 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville. Memorial donations in Don’s name may be made to First Church of God. Those wishing to sign Don’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Don was born June 11. 1936 in Benton Harbor, MI. He grew up in the St. Joseph area surrounded by his loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. His life experiences shaped the many stories he loved telling everyone he met. One such story was how he met his beloved first wife, MaryAnne Modigell, in kindergarten, and later married her in 1956.
Don loved spending countless hours boating/fishing with his son, Don, and son-in-law, Jon, on his precious boat, “The Butchie”. Don was a firm believer that any chore worth doing should be done with a helper, ultimately teaching his children and grandsons how to swing a hammer and install a storm door.
Don is survived by his loving partner-Robyn Pellegrom Cook of Berrien Springs; his children-Don (Lynn) Carlsen of Grand Haven, Cindy (Jon) Osborn of Muskegon, Cathy (Eric) Siemans of Benton Harbor; six grandchildren-Amanda (Scot) Ziegenfelder, Tiffany (Rob) Hansard, Megan Carlsen, Matthew Siemans, Michael (Gianna) Siemans, and Marty Siemans; 7 great-grandchildren-Isla and Max Ziegenfelder, Adalyn and Zoey Hansard, and Ford, Regan and Reese Siemans.
He was preceded in death by his cherished first wife, MaryAnne Modigell, in 1991, and his second wife-Dorothy Isbrecht, in 2016, as well as his parents-Wallace K. Carlsen and Milretta Lane, and sister-Wally.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, April 1st at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI, with Rev. David Colp officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday. Burial will take place at Hickory Bluff Cemetery, 4290 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville. Memorial donations in Don’s name may be made to First Church of God. Those wishing to sign Don’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Don was born June 11. 1936 in Benton Harbor, MI. He grew up in the St. Joseph area surrounded by his loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. His life experiences shaped the many stories he loved telling everyone he met. One such story was how he met his beloved first wife, MaryAnne Modigell, in kindergarten, and later married her in 1956.
Don loved spending countless hours boating/fishing with his son, Don, and son-in-law, Jon, on his precious boat, “The Butchie”. Don was a firm believer that any chore worth doing should be done with a helper, ultimately teaching his children and grandsons how to swing a hammer and install a storm door.
Don is survived by his loving partner-Robyn Pellegrom Cook of Berrien Springs; his children-Don (Lynn) Carlsen of Grand Haven, Cindy (Jon) Osborn of Muskegon, Cathy (Eric) Siemans of Benton Harbor; six grandchildren-Amanda (Scot) Ziegenfelder, Tiffany (Rob) Hansard, Megan Carlsen, Matthew Siemans, Michael (Gianna) Siemans, and Marty Siemans; 7 great-grandchildren-Isla and Max Ziegenfelder, Adalyn and Zoey Hansard, and Ford, Regan and Reese Siemans.
He was preceded in death by his cherished first wife, MaryAnne Modigell, in 1991, and his second wife-Dorothy Isbrecht, in 2016, as well as his parents-Wallace K. Carlsen and Milretta Lane, and sister-Wally.
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