Carol Ann Stanchfield

Fond du Lac – Carol Ann Stanchfield, 87, of Fond du Lac, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 20th, 2022, at her home.

Carol was born on April 8th, 1935, in Fond du Lac, the daughter of Roy and Laura (Wietor) Salter. Carol was born into a quaint family farm where she learned the value of family and hard work. Carol would tell stories of going to church with her mom on Sundays, and getting home in time so her mom could watch the Packers. While Carol didn’t carry on the same love for the Packers that her mom did, she often spoke of the lessons learned from her parents like hard work, kindness, caring, compassion and always treating people well. Carol went to LP Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac where she met the love of her life, George. Upon George’s return from the Korean War, they were married in 1953 and began their wonderful life together.

Both growing up on farms, Carol and her husband George began their own family farm which celebrated its 100th year in the Stanchfield family this year. This is where Carol exhibited her never-ending dedication to hard work as she worked the farm while George worked his job at Mercury Marine. The two made a great team, George giving Carol the Farm to-do list before he left for work and her enjoying every task on the list. Carol would work the fields to ensure George could plant when his working day was done. Carol’s dedication to hard work through the operation of the family farm while being a mother was never lost on anyone and showed her true strength.

George brought a passion for agriculture and fairs to Carol’s life and the two quickly made that a focal point of their relationship, family, and life mission. As George would serve on the fair board, Carol would work just as diligently as a volunteer to make the annual event a success. Carol’s giving was recognized in 2005 as the recipient of the Wisconsin Association of Fairs VIP and in 2009 as the Friend of the Fair award winner from the Fond du Lac County Fair. She valued what fairs meant to the community as she experienced that value first-hand when she watched her daughters participate as exhibitors as well as many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carol’s family members were not the only exhibitors, Carol herself was an exhibitor at the Fair through 2021. Carol always had her camera and loved to exhibit her photos in the photography project every year. The subjects of her pictures were always kids, mostly her grandkids, but sometimes kids she didn’t even know. She loved to capture people when they were happiest. Beyond capturing smiles on her camera, Carol loved sunsets and clouds. Carol loved the beauty and uniqueness in every single one, no two were alike and you would often find her looking to the sky reminding anyone around to look with her and recognize the masterpiece. Carol’s recognition of these simple things was a constant reminder to her family to slow down and take in the beauty around you. And if you missed it, Carol has a picture of it.

Carol has much to be proud of and has lived a wonderful life, but her biggest pride and source of joy was her husband. There was no greater role that Carol cherished than being George’s sidekick. Wherever George went, Carol was right by his side. The perfect pair spent countless hours raising their children together, taking care of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, driving in the van touring Wisconsin to hit every county Fair or go on a road trip or make it to the next ball game. No matter what they were doing, they did it together and adored every minute of it. The greatest legacy Carol leaves behind was the example of true love she exhibited throughout her life. From this love, Carol and George had four wonderful daughters who gave them eleven beautiful grandchildren that then blessed them with sixteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. This family was Carol’s purest source of joy. Carol was small in stature and quiet in nature, but her heart was big, and she shared it with many. It would not be right to talk about Carol and not mention the one thing she shared the most often, ‘grandma bars’ – her simple chocolate chip bars that cannot be reproduced no matter how often people try. Her family is sure the magic ingredient was grandma’s love, because love she did.

Carol is survived by three daughters Sue (Gary) Edwards of Fond du Lac, Pat Immel of Eden, and Jean (Gerard) Kohlman of Fond du Lac; eleven grandchildren, Rick (Cathy) Van Buren, Dawn Van Buren (Mark), Nicole (Anthony) Lo Bionco, Nathan Van Buren, Angie Benson, Tim (Erin) Edwards, Matt (Ramsey) Immel, Lisa Immel, Kim (Brad) Wagner, Jennifer Kohlman and Kayla Kohlman; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; and nieces and nephews.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Laura; her husband George; her brothers Robert and James; and her daughter Mary Meinke.

While Carol was an angel to many, her family certainly were surrounded by a team of angels in her final days. They would like to extend an enormous amount of gratitude to the hospice nurses, the CNA, and the entire staff at SSM hospice; you are all truly angels.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2022, from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow the visitation at the funeral home at 1:00 PM. Private family burial will follow the service at Rienzi Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family will accept donations which will be forwarded to a charity of choice in Carol’s name.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com