LIBERTYVILLE, IL (February 26, 2012) – A funeral service for Rollie Carlson, former president of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence (CMB) of the Evangelical Covenant Church, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Libertyville Covenant Church, 250 South St. Mary’s Road in Libertyville.
Visitation will be observed from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 2, at Burnett Dane Funeral Home, 120 West Park Avenue in Libertyville.
Carlson, 79, died early Friday afternoon following a brief illness.
Carlson helped guide the Covenant on numerous projects that benefited the “least of these.” In 2008, Swedish Covenant Hospital presented him and his wife, Janis, with the Spirit of Compassion Award.
As head of CMB, Carlson created the Compassion, Mercy, and Justice Committee, which eventually became a department within the denomination. He also served at one time as president of the North Park University Alumni Association.
Paul Peterson, who succeeded Carlson as CMB president, said, “I think his greatest contribution was making it possible to pull all of the Covenant retirement communities under one organization.”
Peterson noted Carlson’s generosity and commitment to helping others. “He was always very helpful to people and supportive of different projects. He didn’t just ask people to give. He gave a lot himself.”
He is survived by his wife, Janis; four sons, David Carlson, Craig Swanson, Todd Swanson, and Bradley Swanson; and three daughters, Kristine Bruckner, Karin Lundstedt, and Carla Engstrom; 17 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gretchen. Click here to read more from The Chicago Tribune.
Covenant News Service will publish additional information as it becomes available.
