Darryl W. Carlson

Darryl Wayne Carlson went home to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, April 17, 2026 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, Illinois. Darryl was born to Gotfred and Ruth (Nordell) Carlson on September 4, 1932 in Greeley, Colorado. He was the youngest of four children: Loretta, Lowell and Gerald who died in infancy. Darryl’s father was killed in a horse accident when Darryl was 13. Darryl was very active in 4H winning a number of ribbons from the animals he showed. He loved horses and learned to ride his horse, Patches, at a very young age.

Darryl and his family were very active in the Greeley Evangelical Free Church (now Christ Community Church). It was there that he came to know Jesus Christ as his Savior and felt the call to missions. Darryl and his mother moved to Illinois in 1950 and one year later graduated from Maine Township High School in Cook County. He enrolled in Trinity Bible College in Chicago, Illinois and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956. He later began his studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School graduating with his Master of Divinity degree in 1960. 

While at Trinity he met his wife-to-be, Millie Ekberg, who was studying in the college. They were married June 27, 1959 in the Estes Brook Free Church in Minnesota, where Millie grew up. During Darryl’s last year in seminary, Darryl and Millie were accepted as missionaries by the Evangelical Free Church mission to serve in Venezuela, South America in a joint printing/publishing ministry together with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) in Maracaibo, Venezuela. This printing facility would provide much-needed Christian literature for the Spanish speaking world. They began Spanish language studies in 1960 at the Rio Grande Bible Institute and Language Center. Upon completion of the intensive nine-month Spanish course, they boarded a Dutch Freighter to Venezuela. Their destination was the city of Maracaibo, a city of over a million population, It would be their home for the next 22 years where their three children, Janet, Monica and Nathan would be born, grow up, receive their schooling and be a vital part of their ministry. While they worked in the evangelical print shop, Darryl and Millie were very involved in the ministry in the Pravia Evangelical Church, helping them start a Sunday School in the rural area of La Concepción. Darryl enjoyed working in the print shop where for the next 15 years they printed thousands of Christian tracts, monthly magazines, books, posters and flyers for much of the Spanish speaking world. 

In 1975 Darryl and his family moved to a new area of the city and began a Bible study in their home. God blessed and after three years it outgrew their home. They moved to a large private school facility owned by a family from their church. When one of the young men from their church graduated from seminary and accepted the call to serve as pastor to the church, Darryl was ready to begin a new ministry. It involved a nine-hour move to the city of Maracay to minister in Theological Education by Extension where Bible training classes were offered to the church leaders in rural areas. His last five years in Venezuela, Darryl served as Field Chairman which involved the relationship between the Venezuelan church and the mission both in Venezuela and the US. When Darryl’s term as Field Chairman came to an end, he received a call to serve as District Mission Consultant with the Evangelical Free Church in the Rocky Mountain District. He accepted the call and in the fall of 1989 moved to Greeley, Colorado to begin his new ministry. After seven wonderful years, official retirement took place in January of 1998. The next move was back to Rockford, Illinois to be near family. In his retirement Darryl had the privilege of volunteering at Touch Global, a Free Church outreach located in Rockford. Thirteen years later he and his wife made the move to Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford. 

Darryl was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Janet Carlson Stahl; his siblings and their spouses, Loretta (Charles) Wilson, Lowell (Viola) Carlson and Gerald Carlson (infant); and a nephew and his wife, Terry and Jill Carlson. He is survived by his wife, Millie Ekberg Carlson; daughter, Monica (Bruce) Huley; son, Nathan Carlson; granddaughter, Anna Stahl; grandson, Carl Stahl; great-grandson, Angel Velazquez; nephew, Gary (Linda) Wilson; and two nieces, Beverly (Dick) Wirtz and Judy (Rick) McClure.

The celebration of his life will be held at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, 3470 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61114 Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with visitation at 1:00 to 2:00 pm and the memorial service 2:00 to 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Maywood Bible Church, 3621 Samuelson Road, Rockford, IL 61109, Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, 3470 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61114 or the Rockford Rescue Mission, 715 W State St., Rockford, IL 61102, marked Memorial Darryl Carlson.

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