Sallie Carlson, age 62, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2019, at her home in Bloomington, MN, with her beloved family surrounding the bedside.
A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, August 17, at 11 am, with a time of gathering starting at 9:30 am, at Evergreen Community Church, 2300 E 88th Street, Bloomington. Pastor Brent Knox will preside with a host of family members and friends. Sallie will be laid to rest at a private family burial at Bloomington Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in her memory, by the family.
Sallie Eileen was born on March 14, 1957, in Libertyville, IL, to Ernest and Gladys (Stoltze) Zellmer. She was the younger sister to John, Patricia, Paul and Marilyn and instantly brought light and laughter into the family. Sallie grew up in a small lake community, Sylvan Lake, IL. She enjoyed all aspects of living by the lake and the activities of the different seasons. Sallie attended St. Matthew Lutheran Grade School in Lake Zurich. At the age of 12, her parents answered a call to become missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Sallie went with her parents for training, living in a jungle camp in southern Mexico for several months. Upon returning to the states, her family settled down in Waxhaw, NC at the Wycliffe JAARS base.
After graduating from Parkwood High School in 1974, Sallie furthered her education at Bethany College of Missions, in Bloomington, MN. Her intent was to go into bible translation, but instead, God lead her to stay on staff at Bethany, working in the Bethany House Publishers data processing department, from 1978 to 2002. In 2003 Sallie transitioned into working at Wholesale Art and Framing, for almost 15 years.
While attending Bethany, Sallie meet the love of her life, John Arnold Carlson. On July 4, 1976, they engaged and on August 26, 1977, Sallie and John wedded at Bethany Chapel. They were quickly blessed with a daughter, Deborah and later welcomed a son, Nathan. Spending time with family was most important. The Carlson family enjoyed road trips exploring God’s creation and relished the adventures at the Bethany cabins in Grand Rapids, MN.
Life for Sallie was enriched and blessed becoming a grandma. She loved each grandchild unconditionally. Sallie and John loved to plan special events with them and through the years, have had many great adventures. Each year, she would produce a book of the year’s events with personal stories. Sallie was an amazing grandma, carefully balancing her attention towards each grandchild and valued each moment spent with them. However, like any grandparent, Sallie’s heart broke with the premature and unexpected passing of her grandson, Samuel Winkley (Aug 2016).
Sallie was an exceptional quilter. She made countless quilts for her children, grandchildren and friends, even up to the last months of her life. Sallie even won awards at the Minnesota State Fair. She and John also had a strong interest in photography, especially capturing the wonders of the northern lights. Sallie and John took their passion of photography and have created an online presence of their work at www.lightchase.com
Throughout life, Sallie had strong faith in God. She was blessed to have instilled this devotion into her children and grandchildren. Even in times of despair, Sallie remained true to her God.
Forever missed and loved by husband, John; daughter, Debby (Dennis) Winkley and their children, Jonathan Winkley, Sarah Winkley, Talia Winkley, Elliot Winkley, Kassandra Winkley, Ian Winkley; son, Nate (Tiffany) Carlson and their children, Malakai Carlson, Joshua Carlson, Annabelle Carlson; mother, Gladys Zellmer; siblings, John (Phyllis) Zellmer, Patricia (James) Pickett, Paul Zellmer, Marilyn (Cliff) Greene; other relatives and friends.
There to greet Sallie home in heaven is her father, Ernest Zellmer and grandson, Samuel Winkley.
