Richard M. Carlson

Richard “Rick” M. Carlson, age 78 of Neenah, passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. He was born in Winnipeg, Canada on August 17, 1946, to the late John and Ruth (Berg) Carlson.

A dual citizen, he made his way to the United States after World War II, where his family settled in Illinois. Over the years, Rick found himself captivated by the beauty of Wisconsin, spending many weekends camping under its gorgeous skies with his children. Eventually, Wisconsin became his true home, where he raised his family on the beautiful sprawling farmland that he cherished.

Rick dedicated many years of his life working as an assembler at Oshkosh Truck, a job he took pride in. He had an undeniable passion for cars—they weren’t just vehicles to him; they were a way of life. Whether it was drag racing, fixing up a classic, or simply chatting about them with friends, Rick was always in his element. From a young age, he took the time to show each of his children how to repair and maintain their cars, passing down that invaluable knowledge that they carry to this day.

He also had a fondness for military history and was a fan of sports from Wisconsin and Illinois. Most importantly, Rick loved to hear about his grandkids, who brought immense joy to his life.

He is survived by his children: Scott (Nichole) Carlson, Lisa (Chris) Murphy and Stephani Carlson; grandchildren: Mitchell Mocadlo, Alyssa Mocadlo, Trinity Mocadlo, Tommy Carlson, Jillian Carlson, Morgan Mocadlo, Julianna Carlson, Ciara (fiancé Caleb) Boening, Cameron Murphy, Carson Murphy, Alycia Bentley, Aubrey Bentley and Liam Bently; brother: David (Karen) Carlson. He is further survived by the mother of his children, Deb Carlson, nieces, nephews, as well as many friends, including, good friend, Linda, and his Highlands Apartment friends in Neenah.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Gerald and Paul Carlson.

A memorial service for Rick will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside, 100 Lake Pointe Dr. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Dad was a man who truly embodied the saying "work hard, play hard." Rest easy, Dad. Your legacy lives on in all of us. We’ll make sure to keep the "play hard" part alive.