We are celebrating the life of our beloved family member, Carolyn Carlson, who passed in her sleep on January 10, 2024. Born on October 27, 1936, to Herman F. Kraemer and Sadie B. (Goshorn) Kraemer in Wayne, Nebraska, Carolyn grew up alongside her three older brothers, Bill, Gene and Fritz. Strong family bonds and education shaped her life. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, a rural church near Concord, Nebraska. In 1954, she graduated from Concord High School. At Concord High School she found her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Verl Carlson. On August 7, 1955, Carolyn and Verl married at St. Paul Lutheran Church and devoted themselves to a life together for 68 years.
Her journey continued to unfold with a commitment to education by attending Wayne State College. As the one room rural grade schoolteacher, she instilled the love of learning to her students. In 1957 a significant chapter in Carolyn’s life was defined by her role as a devoted farm wife and mother. It was on the farm that she, along with her husband, built a life centered around Grade A dairy, feeding lots of baby calves, endto- end farrow to finish hog operations, and tilling the soil for corn and soybeans – a life full of hard work, and love. Carolyn and Verl welcomed three wonderful children into their lives: Tammy, Jeff, and Dirk. As a mother, Carolyn was the epitome of warmth, strength, and unwavering support. Her legacy lives on through the values she instilled in her children and the love that continues to bind the Carlson family together.
