Carole Loehr
Carole Kay Loehr (Hewes), born December 24, 1942 to Lloyd Hewes and Genevieve (Dade) Hewes in Delevan Wisconsin, having lived the past 45 years of her life one day at a time, was able to let go of her earthly journey with family and countless, fellow travelers (you know who you are) on Sunday, May 30, 2021 to allow her higher power to take her home to her beloved, eternal family.
In her final years, Carole cherished day trips to Delevan to gather with grade school friends with whom she reconnected after decades apart. Anyone who knew Carole knows she thought of Delevan as her home and that she returned often to visit her old neighborhood.
Carole graduated from Craig Senior High School in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1960. Her dream in high school was to build a life of service to others. While in Janesville, she made the first steps down that path by working as a candy striper at the hospital. She told her kids that her dream in those days was to go to work for the United Nations. While the United Nations gig did not come to pass, Carole’s life of service to others cannot be denied.
In the first years of marriage Carole welcomed two foster babies (Patrick and Katherine) into her home even as she tended to her first two sons (Mark and Todd). After her daughter (Anne) was born in 1967, Carole began to think about finishing her college degree. In 1971, Carole graduated from Lakeland College with a BA in Sociology and a minor in social work. Mark, Todd, and Anne remember her college days as a time of freedom and hope. The house was filled with music, books, interesting college friends, artists, musicians, and acquaintances from church. Anne especially likes to recall “getting to go to college” with her mom. Carole’s dedication at the time set a wonderful example. Mark, Todd, and Anne also fondly recall simple pleasures like munching popcorn and apples while watching funny TV shows with their mom.
In 1972, Carole began her career as a social worker in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where she took so many more steps in her vocation of service while working at Workshops, Inc., Rolling Meadows Nursing Home, Fond du Lac County Social Services, Saint Agnes Hospital, and the State of Wisconsin–primarily at Winnebago Correctional Facility. Carole was a Union activist who retired with an AFSCME pension.
Ilsa Jane Loehr (Barnard), Carole’s youngest child was born in 1977. Mark, Todd, and Anne welcomed Ilsa into the family and delighted in making Christmas, Easter, and all the holidays special for their baby sister in a large, blended family that included “Weezie and Johnny” Peebles. Ilsa’s fondest childhood memories are centered around time in the kitchen with her mom whose pie baking skills are well known and appreciated by many in Carole’s special community of friends. Her pies as well as her coffee discussions have been small blessings to so many. After Carole’s retirement Ilsa and her family were happy to welcome “Granny” and her beloved dog and faithful companion, Biscuit, to their home for summer vacations out of state.
Carole’s Family (Mark Schmitz, Marj, Amanda and Trevor); (Todd Schmitz and Nancy); (Anne Deacy, Tim, Nick and Andy Abler); and (Ilsa Barnard, Karl, Gage and Colton) wish to thank concerned family and friends for their well-wishes, prayers, and thoughtful support over the years and especially in her final days. Our mom (Granny) wants to remind everyone to, “Let go, and Let God” one day at a time.
Services: A time for friends and family to gather will be on Sunday, June 13, 2021 from 12:00 noon to 1:45 PM at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street, Fond du Lac. A Memorial Service will follow at 2:00 PM. Cremation has taken place. Private inurnment will be in Ledgeview Memorial Park on Monday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be directed to the Gratitude Club in Fond du Lac. Carole has been a very active member of Alanon and Alcoholics Anonymous in the Fond du Lac area since 1976.
Online condolences may be shared at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com