According to Chief Ron Langenfeld, the department was responding with the Ute Ambulance Service to a vehicle roll-over outside of town. Calson was with two other firefighters bringing an equipment van to the scene when he collapsed in the van.
The two accompanying firefighters immediately provided assistance and a mutual aide amublance was dispatched. They were unable to save Carlson.
Chief Langenfeld said, "Don was always there, you could always depend on him. Whenever I needed a man I could count on him. It will be hard around here without him."
In the Chief's 41 years with the department, he knew of no other line of duty death. The ambulance service and fire department are separate entities but work closely together. Combined, they have 33 on their rosters.
Carlson was a member of Ute Christian Church where he was baptized. He was a past member of the Congregational Church in Arion, Iowa.
Survivors include two sisters, a brother and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ute Christian Church in Ute. Burial will be in Dow City (Iowa) Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak, Iowa.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: C/o Ute Fire Department, 116 West Second Street, PO Box 87, Ute, IA 51060
