Donald Carlson, 77, of Deep River, beloved husband of Sheila Carlson, passed away on July 2, 2024, at Bride Brook Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Niantic.

Donald was proud to be a lifelong resident of Deep River. After graduating from Valley Regional High School, he joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served several tours of duty as an aviation electrician during the Vietnam War on both the USS Ticonderoga and the USS Kitty Hawk. Upon his honorable discharge, he began working as a land surveyor and briefly lived in Colchester after meeting and marrying the love of his life, Sheila Glover, in 1971.

Shortly after, they moved to Deep River, and Donald became a Registered Land Surveyor and opened his business. He loved his work, being in the outdoors, meeting people, sharing stories, and drafting award-winning maps. Donald built and operated a par 3 golf course in Deep River along with his family and enjoyed watching young and old alike learn and experience the game of golf for the first time. He worked as Santa Clause on the Essex Steam Train’s North Pole Express for several years and loved being able to bring smiles to people’s faces.

Donald is survived by his wife, Sheila Carlson; his daughter, Krista Carlson and her husband Eric Ducoff, their children, Lillian and Wesley; daughter Alexa Jamieson and her husband Matthew Jamieson, and their children, Miriam, Oscar, and Samuel. He is survived by his brother, Richard Carlson, and his two sons, Brian Carlson and Daniel Carlson of Illinois, and his sister-in-law Lynda Ruszala; his niece, Windy Thomson Petersen of Amston; and his nephew, Kevin Ruszala of Colchester.

Above all, Donald loved being a husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, and grandfather to his five grandchildren who truly had his heart. He loved cooking for and traveling with friends and family.

He passed peacefully surrounded by his family who love him dearly and will all remember him fondly. He was one of a kind, a treasure, and will be deeply missed.

The family will be having a private celebration of life. Donations may be made in his memory to Ducks Unlimited at https://donate.ducks.org.