Donald A. Carlson

Donald A. Carlson, 65, of Berrien Springs, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at his home.
He was born July 30, 1955, in St. Joseph, the son of Russell and Elaine Geik Carlson. He attended Lake Michigan College, and later graduated from a five-year electrical apprenticeship and worked as journeyman electrician for many years. Later he worked for Cressy and Everett as the Building Maintenance Manager for the DoubleTree Hotel/1st Source Bank Building, in downtown South Bend. He was a former member of IBEW Local Union 153.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Mapleview Free Methodist Church, 1831 Niles-Buchanan Road, Niles, of which he was a member. Share memories online at www.allredfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to the Niles Salvation Army, 424 N. 15th Street, Niles, MI 49120.
Don was a kind, Godly, dignified gentleman who loved his family and Jesus. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He loved music, was a professional musician as a young man and for many years played the bass in his church band. He delighted in praying for people.
He was a man of many talents. He built golf clubs, guitars, hand-crafted jewelry, and drawing, cooking, baking bread and roasting coffee. He was an unofficial pizza aficionado and his dry sense of humor always found its way into conversations and situations with impeccable timing. His lifelong dream was to design and build his own house with his own hands, which he accomplished. Don also loved dogs and had a passion for rescuing Dobermans.
Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Knepper Carlson; his mother; daughters: Rachel (Jon) Fitrzyk and Sarah (Anthony) Kiefer; grandchildren: Gabriel, Elijah, Grayson, Van, and Eliana; brother, Joel (Rebecca) Carlson; and sister, Lori Carlson.
During his five-year cancer battle he never complained, always had a positive attitude, kept his sense of humor and trusted the outcome to God. The world was a better place for having Don Carlson in it.