Carol E. Whyms

Carol E. Whyms, age 98, of Oakfield, WI, passed peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2020, at St. Francis Home with family by her side. She was born on January 18, 1922, in Oakfield, the daughter of George and Lillian (Meyers) Tesch. On February 27, 1945, she married Charles A. Whyms in Oakfield. He preceded her in death on February 1, 1988.



Carol began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in 1941. She earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education and taught in Lamartine and Oakfield for 28 years until her retirement in 1987. Carol was a member of the Fond du Lac Retired Educators Association and greatly enjoyed their monthly meetings. She attended the weekly social hour at her local bank and participated in the Byron Historical Society. Carol and her young family were members of the South Byron Methodist Church until its closing. She then became a member of the Lamartine United Methodist Church for over twenty years, where she was church treasurer, administrative board member, and organized the annual Strawberry Social, which she looked forward to every spring. When the Lamartine United Methodist Church closed, she joined the Oakfield United Methodist Church until her passing. Along with her husband, Chuck, Carol was involved with the O.J. Gromme bird club and was a longtime member and supporter of Marsh Haven Nature Center. She took pictures for the Belle Reynolds Elementary School Wall of Fame, volunteered at Loaves and Fishes, assisted at blood drives, became actively involved in the Oakfield Ledge/Niagara Escarpment Preservation effort, and was a 4-H Project Leader. These and numerous other services to her community earned her Fond du Lac County’s Outstanding Senior Citizen Award in 2002 and the 4-H Alumni Award in 2004. Carol enjoyed photography, gardening, traveling, learning German, cooking and baking, bird watching, and serving her community. Carol passed her love of these on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially babysitting her grandchildren. Long after WWII, she continued to live by the slogan: "Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"



Carol was a loving and devoted mother who always put her children first. Left to treasure her memory are her eight children: Kathleen Steffa and husband Ray of CO; Sharon Whyms and husband Bill Empey of CA; Sandra Giessen and husband Ralph of WI; Michael Whyms and wife Diane of MD; Joseph Whyms and wife Karen of WI; Rhonda Reynolds and husband Mike of OH; Nancy Whyms and husband Dick Blackburn of IN; Mark Whyms and wife Diane of WI. Carol loved her grandchildren: Nicole, Ryan, Brian, Pamela, Matthew, Nathan, Alan, Erik, Laura, Emily, Annette, and Garrett; spouses of the grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Chuck, infant brother, and sister Dorothy Miller.



Visitation will take place on Friday, August 13, 2021, from 3:00-7:00 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Oakfield United Methodist Church, 220 S. Main St, Oakfield, WI, 53065. Cremation has taken place.



Carol lived independently up until the last two months of her life at her home of 57 years in Oakfield, WI. Carol was grateful to everyone who helped her maintain her independence and social lifestyle. Her family would like to thank all the neighbors, friends and others who helped make this possible.



Additional information and guest book may be found at ueckerwitt.com.