Carole Kurkiewicz, age 81, passed away on October 25, 2024. Carole was born on January 14, 1943, in Rapid City, South Dakota to the late Arthur and Merle (Crippen) Steinlicht. Carole was born and grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. She graduated from Rapid City High School and attended Black Hills State University for art. She met her husband Bob in Rapid City as he was stationed near there for the Air Force. They married on November 7, 1964. They moved to Spearfish, SD where their sons Bobby and Mike were born. Throughout her life, Carole continued to love the Black Hills of South Dakota and the family she had there, and many family memories were made on road trips towing a popup camper from Shawano out to the Black Hills. Carole and Bob moved with their two boys to Shawano, Wisconsin, in 1976, where they had their third son, Danny. Carole often told her sons that they always wanted a girl, but evidently after three boys, that was enough of that. Carole was a caring, loving, and supportive mother and wife, and she loved being a mom to three boys. She had a smiling personality with a great sense of humor. She also loved to paint and continued to do so her entire life. She was a talented artist and often displayed her artwork at local art shows. Carole was a member and onetime president of the Shawano Arts Alliance. She enjoyed being a part of a Bridge card club and "Wednesday lunch bunch" with her girlfriends. She was a dog lover, and for over 50 years Carole and Bob had many dogs. For many years, Carole loved country line dancing with Bob and traveling to Florida to escape the cold winters. She is a devoted Christian and regularly attended and volunteered at Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano. Carole and Bob were set to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on November 7th this year.

Carole is survived by her husband Bob, their children: Bobby (Michelle "Missy"), Mike (Lori), and Danny (Erin); grandchildren: Noah Mahkimetas-Kurkiewicz, Gavin Mahkimetas-Kurkiewicz, Abriella Mahkimetas-Kurkiewicz, Wyatt Kurkiewicz, step-grandchildren: Juniper Huber Scheife, Lucas Stiles, Angela Stiles, brother Gary, and nieces and nephews, relatives, and friends.

A funeral service for Carole will be held at 12:00 pm on Friday, November 1, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano with Pastor Scott Ludford officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until noon at the church. The family hopes that Carole's art and memory will be spread far and wide and requests that those attending the service please take a painting of their choosing. A memorial fund has been established at the Shawano County humane society.

T he family would like to extend a special thank you to the Hospice Nurses from Theda Care and Nancy Schultz from Zion Lutheran Church.