Nina J. Carlson
December 26th, 1950 - September 2nd, 2023
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Nina's Obituary
Nina J. Carlson, 72, of Buchanan, passed away Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Corewell Health Lakeland, St. Joseph.
A private burial will take place at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan. Memorial contributions in Nina’s name may be made to the University of Michigan, Dr. Rogel Cancer Center for Multiple Myeloma, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Arrangements have been entrusted to Swem Chapel, Buchanan. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.swemchapel.com.
Nina was born on December 26, 1950, to Ivan and Bernadine (Smith) DeLay in Clinton, IA. She graduated from Oak Park Academy (High School) in Nevada, IA. She went on to graduate from Hillsdale Nursing College in Hillsdale, IL. On February 1, 1974, she married Glen L. Carlson in St. Joseph, MI. Professionally, Nina served as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Benton Harbor, and Buchanan, MI, as well as New Carlisle, IN. She spent the majority of her career at Hamilton Grove Assisted Living, New Carlisle, IN, from where she retired in 2016.
Nina was an athletic child who loved to run track and play softball. Her caring and empathetic nature led her to nursing school. She met her husband while caring for his grandmother. After getting married, she continued to work and care for the elderly. Nina took pride in her job and treated everyone she met with care and compassion. She was extremely generous and could always be found helping others. Nina had an amazing sense of humor and was always ready to joke and laugh. She also loved to travel. She and her husband, Glen, would take long trips to explore new places. Some of her favorites were to the UP and out west to the Pacific Ocean. She enjoyed walking the beaches of Lake Michigan searching for Petoskey stones and beach glass. Nina always seemed to be able to spot these special stones without hesitation. One of her favorite places to relax was her deck, while sipping a cup of coffee, and watching the birds and the deer. She was an animal lover and would always have a treat and a snuggle ready for her “grand-dogs”. Nina also loved to read. Some of her favorite books were in the J.D. Robb series. She enjoyed listening to music and watching westerns on TV. Nina loved tomatoes fresh from the garden, and coconut cream pies.
Most of all, Nina enjoyed the company of her family. Nina and her husband, Glen, were an inseparable team for 47 years, until his passing in 2021. She was also a constant in her children’s lives. Nina always took an interest in what they were doing, and showed her support. She was always there for them. Friday night dinners with the whole family provided some of her favorite memories. Nina’s granddaughters meant the world to her. Nina was so proud of all three of the girls. She spoke often about how they were growing up into hard working, and caring young ladies. She enjoyed weekend mornings making chocolate chip pancakes with them as well as going to their sporting events. Many hours were happily spent watching their softball, and basketball games. She made sure they knew Grandma was always cheering for them. She will continue to be their biggest fan as she watches over them. Nina showed strength in all that she did but never more so than when she fought through cancer and later CHF. Nina was a strong, amazing wife, mom, grandma, sister, and friend. She has taken part of our hearts with her.
Nina is survived by her daughter, Robin (Mike) Staup; son, Christopher (Rachel) Carlson; granddaughters, Cameron, Melanie and Riley Carlson; brother, Larry (Doris) DeLay; sisters, Jackie Cook, Pamela DeLay, Valerie (Robert) Cherry and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ivan and Bernadine DeLay; and husband of 47 years, Glen Carlson.
A private burial will take place at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan. Memorial contributions in Nina’s name may be made to the University of Michigan, Dr. Rogel Cancer Center for Multiple Myeloma, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Arrangements have been entrusted to Swem Chapel, Buchanan. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.swemchapel.com.
Nina was born on December 26, 1950, to Ivan and Bernadine (Smith) DeLay in Clinton, IA. She graduated from Oak Park Academy (High School) in Nevada, IA. She went on to graduate from Hillsdale Nursing College in Hillsdale, IL. On February 1, 1974, she married Glen L. Carlson in St. Joseph, MI. Professionally, Nina served as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Benton Harbor, and Buchanan, MI, as well as New Carlisle, IN. She spent the majority of her career at Hamilton Grove Assisted Living, New Carlisle, IN, from where she retired in 2016.
Nina was an athletic child who loved to run track and play softball. Her caring and empathetic nature led her to nursing school. She met her husband while caring for his grandmother. After getting married, she continued to work and care for the elderly. Nina took pride in her job and treated everyone she met with care and compassion. She was extremely generous and could always be found helping others. Nina had an amazing sense of humor and was always ready to joke and laugh. She also loved to travel. She and her husband, Glen, would take long trips to explore new places. Some of her favorites were to the UP and out west to the Pacific Ocean. She enjoyed walking the beaches of Lake Michigan searching for Petoskey stones and beach glass. Nina always seemed to be able to spot these special stones without hesitation. One of her favorite places to relax was her deck, while sipping a cup of coffee, and watching the birds and the deer. She was an animal lover and would always have a treat and a snuggle ready for her “grand-dogs”. Nina also loved to read. Some of her favorite books were in the J.D. Robb series. She enjoyed listening to music and watching westerns on TV. Nina loved tomatoes fresh from the garden, and coconut cream pies.
Most of all, Nina enjoyed the company of her family. Nina and her husband, Glen, were an inseparable team for 47 years, until his passing in 2021. She was also a constant in her children’s lives. Nina always took an interest in what they were doing, and showed her support. She was always there for them. Friday night dinners with the whole family provided some of her favorite memories. Nina’s granddaughters meant the world to her. Nina was so proud of all three of the girls. She spoke often about how they were growing up into hard working, and caring young ladies. She enjoyed weekend mornings making chocolate chip pancakes with them as well as going to their sporting events. Many hours were happily spent watching their softball, and basketball games. She made sure they knew Grandma was always cheering for them. She will continue to be their biggest fan as she watches over them. Nina showed strength in all that she did but never more so than when she fought through cancer and later CHF. Nina was a strong, amazing wife, mom, grandma, sister, and friend. She has taken part of our hearts with her.
Nina is survived by her daughter, Robin (Mike) Staup; son, Christopher (Rachel) Carlson; granddaughters, Cameron, Melanie and Riley Carlson; brother, Larry (Doris) DeLay; sisters, Jackie Cook, Pamela DeLay, Valerie (Robert) Cherry and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ivan and Bernadine DeLay; and husband of 47 years, Glen Carlson.
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