O. Emanuel Karlson

O. Emanuel Karlson, age 91, died Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Hospice Unit of Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township NJ.

Born August 5, 1932 near Shimla India, Emanuel was the son of the late Oskar Alfred and Johanna Margaret (Nichols) Karlsson. After living in India for a few years, Emanuel moved to Sweden for more than 10 years before attending King’s School in Seattle Washington. His first experience in America was a ‘cowboy’ on a ranch in Wyoming.

In 1959, Emanuel became an Ordained Minister with the New York Assemblies of God, which was a lifelong calling he truly treasured. After many years in ministry, Emanuel earned a B.S. degree in 1978 from Mercy College, and went on to work for Meals on Wheels and the Senior Center for the Township of Greenburg NY. He later became the Yard Foreman for EBASCO Corp. in Lebanon NJ until his retirement in 1994.

A brilliant man, Emanuel was a lifelong learner, an avid reader and an oral historian with direct knowledge of events dating from the late 1800’s to the present. He was a gifted and talented vocalist who loved to sing every chance he could, often sharing hymns with his congregation and special events.

In addition to his parents, Emanuel was predeceased by his first wife, Lisa Charlotte M. Karlson, and two sisters, Lillie Johansson, and Linnea Stromberg. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Karlson, his daughter, Dawn Larsen of Stanfordville NY, his daughter, Yvonne Karlson of New Windsor NY, his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Karlson-Priore and Robert Priore of Cornwall NY, his son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Kristine Karlson of Cornwall NY, his daughter and son-in-law, Sonja and Donald Briggs of New Windsor NY, his three step-sons and wives, Christopher and Gale Dallenbach of Sarasota FL, David and Elise Dallenbach of Ringoes NJ, Walter Dallenbach of Asbury Park NJ, and his step-daughter and husband, Kathleen and Michael Pelligra of Jackson NJ, as well as twenty three grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews who reside in Sweden.

A private interment will be at the Franklin Memorial Park in North Brunswick NJ. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Heritage Baptist Church, 1 Autumn Leaf Dr, Flemington, NJ 08822. The celebration service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.