Michael Carver

Michael “Mike” Carver passed away May 27, 2025, at the age of 83. He was born in Rochester, MN, on April 28, 1942 to Laurence and Ariel Carver, and baptized as an infant.

Mike grew up in Waverly, IA, where he became an Eagle Scout, excelled in basketball and football, and proudly worked construction for his father, who owned Carver Lumber and built many houses still serving as homes to residents of Waverly. Mike participated on the University of Iowa men’s basketball team for three years prior to leaving the team his senior year to focus on duties as the University of Iowa Student Body President.

Mike served for six years as a reservist with the United States Army, and moved to Des Moines in 1965, where he began a lifelong stretch of community service in Des Moines and later in Urbandale, where he moved with his growing family in 1973, and was recognized as Urbandale Citizen of the Year in 1980.

Mike was incredibly proud of his children, Melinda Hansen, Matt Carver, Tim Carver, and Liz Nelson, and cherished their decisions to plant family roots in the Des Moines area, so he might see them and their children regularly. He came to be known as “Big Mike” to many members of the family and friends of his children, due to his large stature and booming voice.

On July 21, 1984, Mike married the love of his life, Carmela Brown, with whom he was almost inseparable during their nearly 40 years of marriage. Mike and Cookie truly made their Urbandale house their home and took great pleasure in hosting regular family and friend gatherings, especially around Christmas and the 4th of July. Mike, a lifelong Republican, and Carmela, a lifelong Democrat, taught their children and countless others how a loving couple may have spirited debates and disagreements about a wide variety of topics, but agree on the most important things in life: faith, family, love, and service.

Mike was a respected banker prior to his long career as a well-known commercial real estate broker in the Des Moines area. He mentored many real estate brokers over the years and knew the Des Moines real estate landscape as well as anyone, whether concerning taxes, local code requirements, or other details regarding the Des Moines area.

He was a loving and supportive father who taught his children the importance of service to the community, doing the best they can at whatever they do, prayerfully and actively following God, and putting others first. If he wasn’t attending his children’s activities growing up, he was likely at some type of board or commission meeting to serve the community. This culminated in his 12 years of service on the Urbandale City Council. Whether getting up early to read the Des Moines Register, attend church, or be the first person in line to vote at nearly every election in his precinct, Mike was Mr. Consistency. He actively served in so many community organizations, commissions, and boards over the years, that they are too numerous to list, but put his greatest focus on the YMCA’s Fatherhood Initiative, due to his knowledge that all benefit when men serve as active fathers.

Outside of his relationship with his wife, Mike received great counsel, friendship, and encouragement over a thirty-year period through a group of men from St. Pius church, who met nearly every Friday morning at the IHOP on Douglas Ave. The family is thankful to the men in this group who continued to pick up Mike on Friday mornings, after he was no longer able to drive. The Carver family is also grateful to the workers at Edencrest on Beaver and Wesley on Grand, who were so kind to Mike during the last months of his life.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Carmela, his parents, Laurence & Ariel Carver, and his oldest sister, Mary Lou Kelly.

Mike is survived by his children: Melinda (Jonathan) Hansen, Matt Carver, Tim (Darci) Carver, and Liz (Chris) Nelson; step-son, John (Nancy) Brown III, step-daughter, Kathie (Rod) Reis; sister, Joie (Dick) Cole; granddaughters, Jessi (Carver) & Joseph Kelly, Maddie (Carver) & Cade Friedrichsen, Gaby Hansen, Katie Carver, Lily Nelson, and Nora Hansen; grandsons, Max (Tessa) Carver, Jack Nelson, Sam Hansen, Gabe Carver, and Rockne Carver; three step-grandsons, Andrew (Sheldon) Brown, Jason (Lilli) Brown and George Reis; one step-granddaughter, Abby Reis; and, four great-grandchildren, Elle, Ezra, and Thea Kelly, and Tate Friedrichsen.

Funeral mass will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church 3663 66th Street, Urbandale, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation immediately prior to the mass at 10:00 a.m. The family welcomes mass attendees to a lunch at the church after the service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Urbandale Dollars for Scholars (Click here To Donate to the Urbandale Dollars for Scholars) and add Mike's name in the comments field, or to St. Pius X Catholic Church  in memory of Mike.