Carol Jean (Krenz) Lauterbach

Carol Jean Lauterbach

Wife, Mother, Grandmother,
Teacher, Associate in Ministry, Deacon

Carol was born on December 21, 1934 in Rochester, Minnesota to Edwin and Bertha Krenz. She was baptized at home January 1, 1935. From a very young age, Carol knew she wanted to be a teacher.

She graduated from Northwestern College Preparatory Department in Watertown, WI in 1952. She then attended Concordia Teacher's College, River Forest, IL (now Concordia University, Chicago) where she met her future husband Kert. They were often located near each other due to alphabetical seating. They fell in love and were married September 6, 1954 at Trinity Lutheran, Wisconsin Dells, WI.

They began their family in Rockford, IL. She started teaching grades 1, 2 and later Kindergarten at St. Peter Lutheran School in Schaumburg, IL. She graduated from Concordia University – St. Paul, MN in 1971. Carol both tutored and taught in public and parochial schools in the St. Paul area. In 1975, they moved their family to North Olmsted, OH. She taught 2nd grade at Messiah Lutheran School in Fairview Park, OH until her retirement in 2001. She was a Teaching Minister with a Letter of Divine Call at Messiah under the protocol of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) and later under the same Letter of Call as an Associate in Ministry when Messiah joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988. (In 2017, Associates in Ministry became known as Deacons.)

Carol was an instructor of pastors of the English District, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) in their "Program Emphasizing Adult Christian Education."  She taught the Bethel Bible Program at Cross Lutheran, in Maplewood, MN and at Messiah, Fairview Park, OH. She taught confirmation classes at All Saints, Olmsted Falls and sang in several church choirs.

She was the loving mother of James (Barbra), Laurie (Jeffrey Matthews), David (Sharon Jarosz), Joel (Kelly) and Martin (Sheri). Carol was the proud matriarch of 13 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren (including step grands), with another on the way. She is survived by two sisters, Geraldine Wolter and Corinne (Bill) Beard of Baraboo, WI.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kert, their infant son, her brother Wayne Krenz, and sister Shirley Futta.

Carol enjoyed embroidering, cross-stitch, quilting, gardening, travel and photography. While raising her family, she loved camping and the outdoors. Summers were for family vacations, winding through many of the states and Canadian provinces. In retirement, she and Kert visited more than three dozen countries on all seven continents.

A celebration of Carol's life will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. , with visitation at 12:00 p.m. , at St. John's Lutheran Church, 2881 Division Road, Jackson, WI - 53037. The service will be streamed on Facebook: Search for St. John’s Lutheran Jackson. A luncheon and popcorn party will be served following at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Messiah Lutheran School (4401 W. 215th Street, Fairview Park, Ohio – 44126).

The family is being served by Myrhum-Patten Funeral and Cremation Service.