Carole J. Wieland
Carole Joyce Wieland was a remarkable woman whose intelligence, grace and beauty were matched equally by her strength of character, boundless interest and lifelong passion for education and learning. She was a loving daughter and sister, a dedicated wife, devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Born Carole Joyce Dey, she was the youngest of three sisters. She grew up in Wyocena and Portage, WI, where her father, Benjamin, was a lineman for Milwaukee Railroad. Her mother, Elizabeth, was a common sense, down-to-earth, tireless homemaker who raised those three girls with a great work ethic, as her father, Benjamin, was gone from home for many days at a time, working for the railroad. In fact, it was on Christmas Eve, 1925, when Benjamin, working for the railroad, was caught in a blizzard in North Dakota, that Carole decided to enter the world. Thank goodness for the helpful neighbors to assist Carole’s mother, Elizabeth, with the home delivery.
Her determination and persistence were forged as a child, growing up against the backdrop of the Great Depression and World War II uncertainties. Her family moved from Wisconsin to Iowa to be close to her father’s place of work when she was a senior in high school. No one wants to move their senior year of high school and neither did Carole. She made the best of it and graduated with honors from Marion High School in Marion, IA. She kept in touch for over 75 years with the group of high school girls who befriended her as the new kid in Marion. Carole immediately went to work upon high school graduation as it was the middle of WWII, and the expected outcome was for all men and women to contribute to the war effort. Her interest in business led her to numerous companies across the Midwest, finally settling in La Crosse, WI, working at the Trane Company.
It was in August of 1969 that she married Lee Wieland of Arcadia, WI, and moved with her daughter, Cindy (from a previous marriage) to Arcadia, where she resided and prospered. Lee and Carole spent 51 years together as a married couple. Farming and their insurance business was their major focus until Lee’s retirement. They were then able to travel to many delightful destinations across the U.S., from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California. Outside of the United States, they made their way to Mexico, Jamaica, Bermuda and Canada.
At the age of 65, Carole decided that attending and graduating from UW–La Crosse with a business degree was her real passion. Having attained that degree, her pursuit and attainment of an MBA from UW–La Crosse at the age of 70, was her next educational goal. We all chided her on saying that she was that gray-haired student in the front row of all of those college classes who aced every test and quiz she took. We were right. She obtained both her business and MBA degrees with high honors.
Her gardens were large and abundant and provided many great meals around her table. Her green thumb with plants and vegetables was amazing. Everything Carole grew was tall, green, and leafy. Because of her culinary curiosity, she was always interested in finding a new recipe to try out. Her Grandma Carole’s baked beans are famous — we all loved them right down to the bottom of the crock pot. Her Christmas cookies and fudge are unmatched. As was the way with this generation, she was a sewing whiz. Numerous quilts, her daughter’s school and prom dresses, her grandson’s pants and shirts, and all the household mending was produced on her Singer sewing machine.
Carole found time to be a member of the local Arcadia Card Club, flower club and Mr./Mrs. bowling league. Her weekends were filled with trips up north to their cottage on Grindstone Lake near Hayward, WI. Friday night fish fries were standard fare with husband, Lee, her daughter, Cindy, son-in-law, Harry Rasmussen, and their two grandsons, Erik and Benjamin Rasmussen. Saturdays and Sundays could find her and Grandpa Lee on their pontoon boat, catching all the walleye, bass and northern pike that Grindstone Lake would give up. Saturday evenings gave us all an opportunity to consume way too many S’mores around their lakeside campfire and play Euchre with all three generations, grandparents, parents and grandsons around the kitchen table.
Carole and Lee were faithful football grandparents, watching Erik as the starting left-tackle at UW-La Crosse and Ben as starting defensive end for four years at Hayward High School. She was extremely proud that both of her grandsons were high school valedictorians, Erik in Homer, AK, and Ben in Hayward, WI. Both grandsons were three sport athletes in high school as well. She cheered on her Badgers and Packers football teams with great enthusiasm.
Those who will always remember, treasure and cherish her life are her daughter, Cindy (Harry) Rasmussen of Onalaska, WI; her grandsons: Erik Rasmussen of Middleton, ID, and Benjamin (Jeanie) Rasmussen, Sr.; great-grandson, Benjamin James Rasmussen, Jr.; and great-granddaughter, Jacqueline Jean Rasmussen of Port Edwards, WI.
A private service will be held at a later date.
Please send your cards/condolences to the following address: The Family of Carole Wieland, P.O. Box 340, Arcadia, WI 54612.
The family would like to thank the home healthcare people Carole relied on for all of their wonderful assistance, compassion, care and attention for three years while residing at her home in Arcadia. She then transitioned to Springbrook, Onalaska, WI, for two years. In addition, we would like to thank Springbrook and Moments Hospice for their comprehensive care, support and kindness during her stay.
We know that today, there is indeed another beautiful angel in Heaven watching over us. We miss you every day and love you forever.
