Alan Carlson

Alan Roy Carlson

December 7, 1943 – June 26, 2026

Alan Roy Carlson was Promoted to Glory on Friday June 26, 2026, at his home in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, surrounded by family and friends. He was 82.

Alan was born on December 7, 1943 — the second anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor — to Hjalmar and Callie Carlson. A surprise baby and the youngest of five children, he grew up in a Swedish-American family where faith, music, and service became the norm. By the end of his life, he had become the last surviving member of his generation, having been preceded in death by his parents, his four siblings, and each of their spouses.

Much of Alan's life was shaped by ministry. For a half-century, he served The Salvation Army as a cadet lieutenant, officer, and envoy in appointments across the United States. Many of those years were spent directing Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where he walked alongside men and women recovering from addiction and rebuilding their lives. Alan knew recovery was rarely simple or straightforward. More often, it looked like showing up one more day, choosing hope one more time, and leaning on God’s inexhaustible grace.

Music was woven through Alan's DNA. He was able to pick up nearly any brass instrument — from soprano cornet to bass trombone — and make it sing. Rarely content to leave a song or a hymn exactly as written, he mischievously added an unexpected harmony, descant, or flourish that made even the most familiar song feel new. He passed that deep musicality on to his kids, their kids, and hundreds of other friends, colleagues, and students over a lifetime.

Alan also had a gift for connecting with people. He loved a lively conversation, a room filled with music, and an excuse to celebrate. Whether around a family table, after a band rehearsal, or at a church gathering, he was often at the center of the stories and laughter. His energy could fill a room.

Like the people he served, Alan's own life included remarkable gifts alongside difficult chapters. Those closest to him knew both. Yet through it all, he remained convinced that God's mercy was greater than human failure and that every new day carried the possibility of another beginning.

Alan is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Tonya Carlson; his children, Jeff Charis-Carlson (Christina Charis-Donelson), Lars-Erick Carlson (Chloe), and Andréa Kish-Bailey (Adam); grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. He was previously married to Pamela Swedeen Homer, the mother of his children.

Alan's life cannot be measured simply by the places he served or the job titles he held. It is reflected in recovering addicts who found another chance, in musicians who learned to sing and play with greater confidence, and in family and friends who continue to tell his stories.

If so desired, memorials preferred to the family.

May his memory be a blessing.