Carole Jean Cagle

Carole Jean (Scholz) Cagle passed from this life into the next on October 8, 2018 after a long convalescence at the Lutheran Home in Fond du Lac. She was 82.



Carole was born on June 12, 1936 Wisconsin to Henry (d. 1944) and Veronica (Koch) Scholz (d. 1992).



Carole entered the US Air Force in 1954 – when it was still unconventional for women to do so – and was stationed at the South Ruislip Air Force Base, England. While there, she parlayed her love of writing into a position as editor of the Sealand Sentinel, the Base’s newspaper. She also played an excellent game of softball, even winning the Women’s Air Force (WAF) Worldwide title in 1955 with Andrews AFB as right fielder. She aspired to professional journalism, eventually hoping to enroll in the Columbia School of Journalism. However, it was also there that she met her once and future husband, Leonard D. Cagle (d. 2005), also in the Air Force. From the stories they’ve told, Len initially referred to her as “an Indian-legged dishwater blonde”, and the day after they’d first met, Carole greeted him at the Base cafeteria with a smack on the back of the head and a big smile. Although perhaps an inauspicious beginning, it led to a 48-year marriage with three children and two grandchildren.



After several more years in the Air Force, with homes in Colorado Springs, CO and Sun Prairie, WI, the young family ended up in Fond du Lac in 1967 where they resided on Bischoff St. for a year and finally settled into the family home on Sherman St. in 1968 where Carole and Len remained a fixture for many decades. Carole (now as pitcher) resumed her softball playing for Bemis Realty making the championship game twice; sadly, they lost both times to D&D Bar who remained their constant nemesis. Carole also took up golf for a time and was a dedicated player for several years, spending many a summer day (and evening) out on Rolling Meadows Golf Course, with friends, Len, and often a couple of the kids. She also became a hard core Brewer fan and could usually be found on summer evenings listening to the game while reading, another life-long passion.



Although deathly afraid of the water for much of her life, Carole eventually learned to swim and became a dedicated lap swimmer, hitting the pool nearly every day for many years. This led to a close circle of friends (aka, “The Pool People”) who were and are an immense comfort and help during her illness.



Carole’s favorite hymn was “Let There Be Peace On Earth(and Let It Begin With Me)” and “Let It Begin With Me” is perhaps the phrase she would most like to be remembered by; it was something she tried to live by every day. She was never happier than when she was helping other people, from wallpapering her son’s new kitchen, helping to look after her grandchildren, or serving as Catechism Teacher and lay minister in St. Patrick’s Parish for many years.



Above all, Carole was devoted to her family (and the family cat, Sydney). She worried about, encouraged, helped, and generally looked-after all of her family, immediate and extended, as best as she was able for nearly her entire life. And in the end it was our honor to look after her during her final years in nursing care.



Carole is survived by her sister, Phyllis (Wesley) Ciesielski of San Diego, CA; children Barbara of Columbia, MD, Jeff (Kathleen) and their children Robin and Veronica of Ellicott City, MD, and Tony (Taya) of Mesa, AZ.



She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Robert (d. 1980) and Henry (d. 2015) and his wife Nancy (d. 2016), and sister Marian (d. 2016).



Services: A funeral Mass will be held Friday, November 30, 2018, at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church, 271 4th St Way, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10:00 AM until the time of services. Cremation has taken place.