Robert M. Carlson

Robert Merlin “Bob” Carlson died peacefully on November 7, 2025 at Porter Hills Village in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born to Gustav and May Carlson, of South St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 11, 1926, he was the fourth child; brother to Arnold, Norman, and Edward.

Robert pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Robert married Beuna “Bunny” Coburn in 1950. The couple moved to Michigan, where they lived for nearly 75 years, primarily near Mount Clemens raising two children.

Robert was a staff engineer at the General Motors Research Laboratories at the Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, specializing in vehicular gas turbine applications. Bob was an engineer who relished details and detailed record-keeping.

Upon retirement, Bob and Bunny explored the world, visiting far-flung places including Iceland, Egypt, Tibet, and Cambodia. The couple also worked with Earth watch on research projects in Scotland, Easter Island, Venice, and Sri Lanka.

Robert’s interests included classical and early folk music, a deep interest in wine and wine-making, and also, he developed a series called “Eclectic Lectures” that allowed him to share his studies of the Spanish Civil War, Earnest Hemmingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and other diverse topics.

An avid interest in birds and birding took them on numerous trips to Point Pelee, Ontario, a birding hot spot. They also traveled the length of Chile on a birding trip. Every year a new bird list was inaugurated at the family home in Mount Clemens, resulting in nearly 60 years of sightings in their suburban setting.

Genealogy became a fascination for him as he documented the Carlson/Peterson family roots, an interest that included trips to Mormon archives in Salt Lake City and parish records in Sweden.

The Carlson's were long-standing, active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Clemens, Robert served as elder, trustee and deacon for many years. Bob was a member of the Detroit-Windsor Torch International and Bob and Bunny were frequent contributors to the New American Lyceum.

Robert Carlson is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 75 years, Beuna Coburn Carlson. He is survived by daughter Margo Carlson (Eric) Berke, son Lee (Michele) Carlson, grandchildren Andrew (Allison) Berke, Adam (Rachel Weston) Berke, Alexis Berke (Mark Hutchins), Abigail Berke (Matthew) Parker, Graham (Meredith Morgan) Carlson, and Evan (Bailey Ferris) Carlson. Also surviving are six great-granddaughters: Anja and Adeline Berke; Emmalynn and Everlee Parker; Eliza Hutchins, and Eleanor Berke.

A private inurnment of both Robert and Beuna will take place at a later date in First Presbyterian Church columbarium. 

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