John  "Jack" Louis Carlson, U.S. Army Veteran, age 84, late of Alsip, died Thursday, February 21, 2019, at Palos Community Hospital.

He leaves a wife of 61 years, Mary Ann (née Reitz) Carlson; four children: Julie (Ken) Pecho, John (Lori) Carlson, Jim (Cathy) Carlson, and Jo Ann (Chris) Manolitsis; ten grandchildren: Niki (Tom) Daviduke, Kenny (Michelle Yang) Pecho, Jason (Gina) Pecho, Jonathan (Melissa) Carlson, Alyssa (Jordan) Gillund, Breanne (Fielding Lockas) Carlson, Catie Carlson, Kara (Jeremy) Brzuszkiewicz, Cody Fuerst, and Krissa Manolitsis; seven great-grandchildren: Jack Daviduke, Olivia Daviduke, Smith Brzuszkiewicz, Leon Pecho, Noah Velasquez, Mia Velasquez, and Jon Luke Carlson; brother of the late Darlene Carlson; brother-in-law of Pat (late Bernie) Hartigan;  uncle of Mary (Bob) Powers, and Brian (Katie) Hartigan;  great-uncle of Mae, Ben, and Caydee Powers.

Born and raised in Chicago, he was the son of the late John and Joanne Carlson, and a lifelong resident of Alsip.

Jack was a product of the Chicago Catholic Schools, attending St. Adrian School and Mount Carmel High School before venturing to St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN where he studied accounting and met the love of his life, Mary Ann Reitz. The two married in 1957 at St. Augustine Church while he served in the United States Army in Alexandria, VA, where their first child, Julie, was born.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, the young family returned to Illinois where their family continued to grow. Jack use his talents, palpable love of people, and his gift of gab to rise into management positions in various Chicago area businesses. He also utilized those same skills to serve his community as President of the Alsip Little League, Alsip Trustee, and Police and Fire Commissioner for the Village of Alsip. He was also an active participant in the St. Terrence Men's Club.

Jack Carlson love God, family, and country. He was a wonderful son, husband, father, papa, brother, uncle, and friend.

Visitation Sunday, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Funeral Monday 10:00 a.m. from Thornridge Funeral Home (Janusz Family Funeral Service) 14318 S. LaGrange Rd. (Northbound traffic: U-turn permitted at 143rd St.), Orland Park to St. Terrence Church Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials directed to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758518, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8518.