Obituary for Tomi K. Carlson

Tomi was born on December 2nd, 1930, in Niigata, Japan, to Tamotsu and Ichi (Nozaki) Fujimaki. At the age of six, her father moved the family to Yokohama and opened a grocery store where family members worked. Tomi and her family were World War II survivors; her family survived the U.S. bombings of Yokohama in May of 1945.

After the war, Tomi attended beauty school in Tokyo and later became a beautician at the US military base in Yokohama where she met the love of her life Earl Carlson. Earl was stationed in Yokohama during the Korean war. They were married on January 19th, 1954.

After returning to the states in 1954, Earl and Tomi lived in La Crosse on Loomis Street and were members of the North Presbyterian church. They later purchased a 100-acre hobby farm in West Salem where they raised three children. Tomi enjoyed the hobby farm, raising animals and tending to the family’s large garden. She was employed by the School District of West Salem as a cook and worked there until her retirement. She was also a member of the West Salem Presbyterian Church. Tomi also enjoyed reading and cross-stitching. She enjoyed outdoor walking and continued to do so until she passed at 95.

She is survived by her children, Karen Willinger, Lisa Carlson (Louis), and Kevin Carlson; grandchildren, Emily Willinger, Kyle Willinger (Holly), Barb Silbaugh (Brandon), and James Johnson (Niki); and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers and two sisters; son-in-law, Gary Willinger; and her husband, Earl Carlson.

A celebration of life will be planned in the future.

The family would like to thank the employees at Mill Street Manor, Emplify Health, and Mulder Health Care Facility for their care and outstanding service.

Memorials may be sent to the Coulee Region Humane Society 911 Critter Ct. Onalaska, Wis., 54650 https://couleehumane.betterworld.org/campaigns/make-donation

Online condolences may be offered to Tomi’s family at this site.