Leona (Kelderman) Carlson

**UPDATED** Leona Carlson, age 85, of Marshalltown, Iowa passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Iowa River Hospice Home.

Per Leona and her family’s wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. A memorial service has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2025, starting at 1:30 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Pastor Bob Kosbau will be officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, August 4th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. also at the funeral home. Leona will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Memorials in Leona’s name may be directed to the family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to her family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Leona (Kelderman) Carlson was born on April 11, 1940, in Knoxville, Iowa. She was the daughter of Cornelius Kelderman and Pearl Z. Petrie. On April 27, 1963, Leona married the love of her life, Clare Carlson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Leona was a stay-at-home mom, who’s greatest job was to raise her children and care for her husband. She was also a fitness instructor at the YMCA, her church, and the hospital. Later on, Leona worked in food service for the Marshalltown School District. She was a proud member of the First Baptist Church, which is now Journey Church, where she also taught Sunday school for the 2’s and 3’s. Leona also attended Grace Church and was a very active member of the Christian Women’s Club. In her free time, she enjoyed working out, playing the piano, gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, but most importantly she loved taking care of her grandkids and going on family vacations.

Leona is survived by her four children: Lowell Carlson, Cynthia Carlson, Mary (Greg) Pepper, and Robb (Angela) Carlson; her seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and one more that is on the way.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Cornelius and Pearl; her husband: Clare Carlson; her four brothers; and one sister.