Carol Jane Schueler

Carol Jane Schueler (Schwanke), age 79, of Willmar, passed away Wednesday evening, February 14, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 23, at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Carol was born August 26, 1944, to Alvin and Eleanor (Strom) Schwanke in Willmar, MN. Carol was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Raymond, MN. She attended school in Raymond and graduated in 1962 from Raymond High School.

 After graduation she met Norman Schueler. They were united in marriage on December 22, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Raymond, MN. 

Norman was in the military, and they lived in Augusta, Georgia and then was stationed in Butzbach, Germany from 1963 - 1964. During their time in Germany, their first daughter, Cindy was born.

Norman and Carol moved back to the United States and bought a house in Willmar, Minnesota. There they completed their family with daughter Darla and son Daniel.

Carol was a homemaker and stay-at-home Mom. She always had a large garden and enjoyed canning, baking and sewing. She also taught Sunday school and release time at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar.

Carol always enjoyed spending time with her family and especially summers at the cabin on Norway Lake. She also enjoyed attending many of the grandchildren's sporting and musical events.

Carol is survived by her husband Norman; three children, Cindy Cordes of Willmar, Darla (and Mike) Reynolds of Willmar and Daniel (and Melissa) Schueler of Spicer; nine grandchildren, Andrew (and Heather) Cordes, Lacey (and David) Ellingson, Matthew (and Alizabeth) Cordes, Anthony (and Laurence Lilagan) Reynolds, Alex (and Anne) Reynolds, Daniel, Ryan, Aubree and Eva Schueler; seven great-grandchildren, and one sister-in-law, Agnes Schwanke of Willmar, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson Stephen Reynolds, son in-law Dean Cordes, siblings and sister in-law Eldin “Bud” (and Eleanor) Schwanke and Virgil Schwanke and nephew Mike Schwanke.