JANESVILLE — For years, anyone in Janesville who needed help to make their lawn or garden beautiful turned to Tom Carlson.
The civic leader and longtime owner of the Fairview garden center on E. Milwaukee Street died Feb. 27, 2026 at age 93.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., and a luncheon will be provided following the service.
According to his obituary from Henke-Clarson Funeral Home & Crematory, Carlson developed his own green thumb at an early age, becoming Fairview’s best tomato salesman by age 7.
As he grew, so did his responsibilities – painting plant labels, blending potting soils, transplanting, potting, watering, and even stoking the boiler on cold winter nights.
Tom became a partner in the family business with his father, Harold, and older brother, Russell.
He pioneered the concept of a self-service garden center featuring informational plant displays, disposable growing containers for vegetables, and shopping carts – ideas that were forward-thinking for their time.
Carlson also became involved in a variety of civic groups throughout his career.