Eldon Luke Carlson

Luke Carlson was the youngest of 11 children of Eric Gustaf Carlson and Selma Maria (Rydell) Carlson. Luke was born in Ogden, Iowa in 1926, the year his parents single-handedly built a new church in town. Of the seven brothers who lived to adulthood and were brought up in the Ogden Gospel Tabernacle, three became United Methodist ministers.

Luke was precocious, beginning 1st grade at age four, already knowing how to read, and graduating from Ogden High School at age 16 in 1943 as class president. He also began his ministry at age 16, driving his 1937 Ford to fill pulpit vacancies for his older college classmates. He retired to Palmyra, PA at age 70, having served right United Methodist appointments in

Pennsylvania, spanning almost 50 years. Luke was a member of First United Methodist Church Hershey, PA where he taught a Sunday school class for many years. He died of heart failure on October 8, 2022, aged 95.

Luke was a person of great faith and integrity who touched many lives. At mealtime he frequently and audibly thanked the Lord for his eternal salvation. In his declining years, his ministry increasingly turned toward charitable giving.

Luke's wife, Louise, passed away in 2017 after almost 59 years of marriage, and he in turn is survived by three children (David, Sarah and Elizabeth) and four granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church Hershey, PA on Saturday November 12 at 11 AM, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to World Vision in Luke's name. There will be private interment in the Glenwood Cemetery this summer.