Nov. 10, 2016 – West Bend, WI – Carole Olson Lemke, 81, of West Bend, Wisconsin, died November 7, 2016, after a brief illness.
Carole was born February 13, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois and was the only child of Carl and Rigmor Olson, who emigrated from Scandinavia, and met and married in Chicago.
Carole maintained a lifelong interest in her heritage, staying in touch with relatives in Sweden and Denmark. Carole graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, where she established wonderful friendships that lasted her entire life. She was also a graduate of Beloit College.
Carole was a fiercely loyal friend and mother and drew her greatest pleasure when surrounded by friends and family. Most recently, she was able to share in the marriage of her granddaughter Anna at a family gathering in the Napa Valley. Carole lived most of her adult life in Rockford, Illinois and for many years owned and operated Artscape, an art gallery in the Edgebrook Mall.
She is survived by her four children, Derek (Sara) Lemke-Von Ammon, Todd Lemke, Karen (Steve) Gallagher and Noel (Melody) Lemke, and eleven grandchildren, Jack, Todd, Anna, Hallie, Hugh, Grace, Sam, Derek, Karl, Max and Sydney.
The family plans to schedule a memorial service to celebrate Carole’s life in the near future.
Carole’s family wishes to thank her former daughter-in-law Elizabeth Sitterly for her care and support over the past several years. The family also thanks the staff at Cedar Ridge, Cedar Bay and the Cottages at Cedar Ridge in West Bend for their attention and kindness while Carole was in their care.
The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Carole’s arrangements.