Henry “Rick” Carlson III, 73, of Milan, Illinois passed away peacefully on January 27th, 2026, with his closest friends by his side at Unity Point in Rock Island, Illinois. Born on June 11, 1952, Rick attended Rock Island High School before receiving his Associate in Arts degree at Black Hawk College in 1974 and his Bachelor in Science degree at Eastern Michigan University in 1978.

While he worked for a variety of companies, most notably Carlson Sign, owned by his father, and Stonehocker, his true passion was horses. Rick was very active in the equine community throughout the Quad Cities area and Colorado. He taught many people how to ride and broke many horses for people. He made many friends and continued assisting with the equine community in the capacity that he could up until his passing. He loved to ski and was known to be on the slopes quite often in Aspen and Steamboat Springs in Colorado in the 70s and 80s. He was also known to fish as often as he could no matter where he lived and visited for the entirety of his life as being on the water was his peace.

Rick was very family oriented and would do anything he could to help his friends and family. He gave everything he could to make sure his family was taken care of. He was often the jokester and played harmless pranks on people just to get a laugh. Even to the end, he had his nurses and doctors laughing at his sarcastic jokes.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Elly Carlson Jr., sister Anna-Lisa Carlson, brother Zack Roberts, grandson Kaydon Carlson, best friend John Keegan, his beloved dog Spot, and his favorite horse Aspen. All of whom he is now reunited with and causing trouble with.

Rick is survived by his daughters Connie Carlson of Milan, IL, Michelle (Daniel) Ballin of Williamsburg, VA, and Tamara Collins of Franklin, NC, his grandchildren Kara Carlson of Reynolds, IL, Miley Baker of Milan, IL, Alivia and Christian Ballin of Williamsburg, VA, Lavantia Broussard of Franklin, NC, and Jazmyn and Mystic Moye of Franklin, NC, cousin Per Hibe of Lund, Sweden, and best friends David (Judith) Holt of Charlotte, IA and Kevin (Lisa) Steele of Milan, IL.

In lieu of flowers, Rick asked that memorial donations be sent to the Quad Cities Animal Recovery Team, an organization that helps the underdogs in the animal world run by his daughter, Connie, or to New Kingdom Trailriders to support their mission in helping people find therapy and peace with horses.

Visitation will be held from 4PM to 7PM on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at Wheelan Pressly Funeral Home at 3030 7th Avenue, Rock Island. Funeral services will begin at 10AM on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at Wheelan Pressly Funeral Home in Rock Island. Burial services will follow the funeral service at Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery.