Obituary for Clifford Carlson

Dr. Clifford A. Carlson, MD, “Tip” or “Cliff” as he was known by family and friends, passed away of natural causes after a long life of 87 years with many adventures. Cliff was preceded in death by his wife Sharon (Lymburn) of 47 years, and parents Clifford and Evelyn. Survived by sisters Donna Glennie and Mary Russell; children Christopher (Katy), Richard, Kevin, Catherine, Eric (Sue), David (April), and Michael; grandchildren Chris (or CA), Raquela, Alex, Erik, Steven, Johnny, Nicholas, Natalie, Carly, Molly, Sydney and Spencer; great grandchildren Tristan and Zelda; and many nieces and nephews.

Cliff grew up in International Falls where his father owned the Dove Clothing store. Cliff enjoyed great independence, popularity, and the beauty of Rainy Lake. He loved reminiscing about his childhood escapades in the “Icebox Capital of the Nation,” often admonishing his children they didn’t know what a real winter was like. He attended Notre Dame, as well as the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota where he completed medical school in June 1961. Cliff served his nation in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1961 until 1967. He became a board-certified ophthalmologist in October 1972 and was a founding member of the Northwest Eye Clinic.

Cliff married the love of his life, the stunning and vivacious Sharon, in 1959. They had seven children all of whom he loved deeply. Cliff worked hard and took excellent care of his family and later, Sharon, when she became deathly ill. Always a man of deep faith, he attended church weekly and his go-to was saying the rosary, just like his mother before him. He loved spending time at his retreat on the North Shore of Lake Superior and playing bridge with close friends.

An inveterate Vikings fan, Cliff was severely tested by his beloved team; many a tirade pierced his children’s ears during a Viking loss. Otherwise, he was a man of quiet integrity, fair to all, with a dry sense of humor who touched the lives of many, and we are honored and blessed to call him Dad. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Goodbye beloved father and faithful human being. Services will be on November 14^th, 2022, at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park, MN, 9:30AM visitation and 10:30AM Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the North Memorial Hospice program.