Obituary: Warren "Bun" Carlson

Warren Richard "Bun" Carlson was born Aug. 9, 1956, to Sylvia (Heikkila) and Lawrence Carlson in Cloquet. He passed away Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, at Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital due to complications from a genetic heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He attended Cloquet schools, graduating from CHS in 1974. He was class president, and a three-sport letter winner in football, hockey and tennis.

Bun attended the College of St. Scholastica, majoring in business. He graduated in 1978. He played on the CSS hockey team that won two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship hockey titles. He also played tennis at CSS. Bun was very active in the community as a boys bantam hockey coach and girls hockey coach. He also was a girls youth softball coach for several years.

Bun was a salesman for several local companies, and his gregarious personality and gift of gab endeared him to his customers. He was elected to Cloquet City Council in 2018 and was reelected in 2022, serving a total of six years. He was also a city council representative on the Cloquet Area Fire District board.

Bun liked to keep busy enjoying hunting grouse, ducks and pheasant. He was an avid deer hunter, enjoying years of fellowship with his brothers, cousins and friends. Bun was an avid fisherman, enjoying many fishing trips to Canada as well as to the Boundary Waters with his best friend, Steve. After college, Bun took up the sport of golf and was the "entertainment" at the Thursday night golf league for years. Everyone loved Bun. Always smiling, quick to lend a hand, wicked sense of humor, and he loved his family so much.

Bun was preceded in death by his parents; brother Leland Carlson; and sister-in-law Freda Carlson.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years and love of his life, Brenda (Johansen); daughters, Alexa (Paul) Deppeler and Kelly (John) Scheuer; granddaughter, Hazel Scheuer, and two grandbabies due in May; brothers Gordy (Karen) Carlson and Keith Carlson; sister-in-law Jill Carlson; brother-in-law, Daniel (Laurel) Johansen; nephews, Curt, Chris, Cory, Scott and Darrin Carlson, and Jack Johansen; and nieces, Sheri Sorenson and Grace Johansen.

The family thanks Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital, University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital, and the Raiter Family Clinic for their loving care.

Visitation: 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Visitation continues at 11:30 a.m. until the 1 p.m. memorial service on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Presbyterian Church of Cloquet. Arrangements entrusted to Nelson Funeral Care and Cremation Service. To sign an online registry, please visit http://www.nelsonfuneralcare.net.

Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Cloquet; or, consider donating to a local youth organization. In the spirit of giving back, Bun's corneas were donated, giving sight to others. Please consider organ donation.