David Oscar Carlson, 83, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026, in Lakeville, MN, one day shy of his 84th birthday. Dave was born to Oscar August Carlson and Leota Evangeline Hanson Carlson on February 25, 1942, in Youngstown, OH, and grew up in Boardman, OH, where he graduated from Boardman High School in 1960. Dave was a junior firefighter with the Boardman Fire Department in high school — the beginning of a love for the fire service that never left him.

Dave joined the Air Force after high school and served as a mechanic working on fighter jets. He was stationed in Iceland during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he was awed by the Northern Lights and loved to tell people, "In Iceland, there is a girl behind every tree — but there are no trees." His final station was Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York — where a chance CB radio conversation with Bob and Grace Rhinebold, and an invitation to meet them at the local bowling alley, led to the most important introduction of his life: their daughter, Mary Roberta "Robin" Rhinebold. Dave and Robin were married at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Rome, NY, in August 1965.

Following his service, Dave attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and was recruited away just before graduation by Northwest Orient Airlines as an airline mechanic — bringing him back to Minnesota, where he had spent his summers as a boy.

The day Dave and Robin moved to Bloomington, Minnesota, Dave heard fire trucks responding to a call from a nearby station. He told Robin he'd be right back. When he returned, he informed her that he had joined the Bloomington Fire Department. Known on the department as "Oscar," #72, he was a loyal and dedicated firefighter through and through — so much so that when a fire call came in as the family was heading to the hospital for the birth of their first child, he had to stop at the station on the way. Dave spent the next 20 years serving the department as a charter member of Station 3, eventually retiring as Captain. The fire department brought with it a wonderful group of friends who became family.

Dave and Robin had two children, Kerri and Brent, and raised their family in Bloomington. Dave's career with Northwest Airlines allowed the family to enjoy many wonderful trips around the country and visits to extended family in New York and Ohio. He was known for loading the family into the car on Sunday afternoons for spontaneous drives that turned into memorable adventures — sometimes joined by other friends. He also loved taking the family on camping trips over the years, including many with fellow firefighter families. The family enjoyed over 20 summers at Carefree Country Club in Big Lake, MN.

Dave became a Mason through the Bloomington Masonic Lodge and joined the Zuhrah Bloomington Area Shrine Club, where he served as President in 1986 and remained an active member until 2019.

Dave spent his entire 34-year career at Northwest Airlines as a Mechanic, Foreman, Inspector, and ultimately retired in 1999 as Manager of Maintenance Program Development. He was instrumental in developing maintenance programs for the NWA fleet, including the Airbus aircraft, work that took him to France several times near the end of his career. Dave was widely respected for his deep knowledge of the airline industry, his integrity, and his unwavering loyalty to NWA. His coworkers valued his compassion and his steady, understanding presence.

In retirement, Dave and Robin were able to enjoy many wonderful trips around the world. They had a natural gift for making new friends wherever they went — friendships that often led to new adventures. Dave also volunteered for seven years with Travelers Assistance at MSP Airport for the MSP Airport Foundation. He greatly enjoyed connecting with people from around the globe and as he would always say with a smile, "telling them where to go."

Dave is preceded in death by his parents and many beloved family members and friends. He is survived by his wife Robin; daughter Kerri Sue (Tom) Carlson Anderson; son Brent David (Rebecca) Carlson; grandchildren Brady (Keeley) Carlson-Klose and Sydney Anderson; Brady's mother, Kim Carlson;  sister-in-law Judy Gestrich, niece Tanya Davis; nephews Robert (Victoria) Yourdon and Dustin Pardy; great-niece Kayla Davis; and great-nephews Tyler Davis, Ryan Davis, Mason Yourdon, and Benson Yourdon.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 20, at 10:00 AM, followed by a service at 11:00 AM at White Funeral Home, 12804 Nicollet Avenue, Burnsville, MN. Dave will be laid to rest at St. Croix Valley Memorial Forest at a private memorial at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association or the Bloomington Association of Firefighters (B.A.R.F.).