Ellen Jean Carlson

Ellen Jean Carlson, the daughter of Arvid and Gladys (Strandberg) Carlson, was born August 18, 1937, in Audubon, Iowa and died October 27, 2016, in an auto accident near the Angels Camp area in Sonora, California at the age of 79 years, 2 months, and 9 days.
Ellen was baptized and confirmed at the Lone Star Presbyterian Church in Guthrie County, Iowa. She attended rural school in Melville Township, Audubon County, Iowa and then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1955. Following High School Ellen was employed at the Audubon newspaper for several years. She moved to California and worked at Dombrowski Flowers in Englewood, California. Ellen later became an Accounting Supervisor for Econo-Lite where she worked for over 30 years. Also during this time she worked at “Let them Eat Cake” and Christopher Garren’s Cake Shop in Orange County, California. Ellen was a talented and creative designer of food art. She carved watermelons into swan fruit baskets, turned radishes into roses, and green peppers into Palm trees. She used her artistic talent to decorate cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. Ellen continued baking cupcakes after retirement for special gatherings and celebrations. Halloween was her favorite holiday always dressing up in costume. Ellen had endless energy and had an enthusiasm and zest for life which was contagious to those around her.
Ellen was a member of the Sweet-arts Cake Club in Orange County. Her artistic talents were appreciated on WE-tv’s Amazing Wedding Cakes Show and the Vegetable Art Show on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Ellen earned the title of “Sugar Aunt” for her special Rice Krispy treats and the sugar filled goodies she sent the kids at Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. She was a true kid at heart, loved to decorate for every holiday, enjoyed playing slots at the casino, and was an avid Elvis fan.
Preceding her in death were her parents Arvid and Gladys Carlson; her sisters Jean Linn Carlson and Ina Foresman; her nephew Rodney Foresman, her great niece Crystal Lilley; and other relatives.
Survivors include her sister Judy and husband Charles Gates of Jamestown, California; brother-in-law Richard Foresman of West Des Moines, Iowa; her nephews Randy (Kari) Gates of Plano, Texas and Rick (Janet) Gates of Porter, Texas; her nieces Lori (Paul) Kirpes and Vicky Foresman all of West Des Moines, Iowa, Cynthia (Chad) Filean of McKinney, Texas; and Kathy (Joe) Walsh of Niles, Illinois; her grandnieces and grandnephews Jena (Robert Hall), Ryan (Amber Kurkowski) Gates, Jacquline Burrows, Jennifer (Ty) Lee, Cynthia Burrows, Andrew Burrows, Carl (Nicole) Kirpes, Jake Kirpes, Breanna Kirpes, Kaylee Kirpes. Olivia, Sam, Jackson, and Cecelia Filean. Allison and Abigail Walsh; great grandnieces and great grandnephews Rylie Gates, Samantha Burrows, Max Pyeatt, Chanell Lee, Cayla Burrows, and Cara Burrows; her friends Chris Russom, Rosa Reyna, and Steve and Nancy Dombrowski.
The family will meet with friends from 12:00 noon until the time of the service on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Saturday November 12, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be Randy Gates, Ricky Gates, Jackson Filean, Charles Gates, and Richard Foresman. The casket bearers will be Carl Kirpes, Jake Kirpes, Ryan Gates, Samuel Filean, Chad Filean, and Paul Kirpes. Condolences may be sent to Judy and Chuck Gates P.O. Box 1542, Jamestown, California 95327.