Carol Mae Heimerl, 73, of Tomahawk, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2022, under hospice care at Milestone Senior Living surrounded by her loving family.
Carol was born March 28, 1949, in Burlington, Wis., to Harold and Margaret (Reitz) Lahn. She was united in marriage on Nov. 25, 1967, in Hartford, Wis., to Steven J. Heimerl. Carol and Steve moved to Merrill, Wis., in 1975 and built their retirement home in Tomahawk in 2005. While living in Merrill, Carol worked as a transport clerk at Pinecrest Nursing Home, managed United gas station, and was a Pizza Hut manager. Carol enjoyed her life as a homemaker and raising their four children. Besides being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Carol dedicated her life to taking care of Stacie, their special daughter.
Carol enjoyed playing Oh Hell, Hand & Foot, and Sheepshead card games with her family and getting together weekly with her ladies’ poker club. She really ruled the table when the word games came out. Two of her favorites were Bananagrams and Quiddler. Carol and Steve also enjoyed watching the Young and the Restless together every day and have been fans of Survivor and CSI for years.
Carol was very involved with the Tomahawk Food Pantry and the Happy Kids Backpack Program, which provides food and personal necessities to local students. She loved being able to help the community, while enjoying fellowship with the other volunteers.
Carol was an avid historian and her passion was digging into family genealogy. She spent many years researching public records, visiting graves, and listening to the stories of her family members to build out the family tree and pass their stories on.
Most of all, Carol enjoyed many years of grouse hunting with family, friends, and their beloved dachshund, CoCo, at their cabin in the town of Fence.
Surviving Carol Heimerl is her loving husband, Steve, and four children, Lisa (Dale) Elliott of Tomahawk, Paul (Wendy) Heimerl of Columbia Falls, Mont., Stacie Heimerl of Tomahawk, and Eric (Amy) Heimerl of Merrill. She is further survived by eight grandchildren, Rachel (Marcus) Elliott, Jackie Elliott, Jake (Jolee) Heimerl, Phil (Zoey) Heimerl, Chad (Montana) Heimerl, McKenzie (Isaac) Heimerl, Madey (Nick) Heimerl, Eli (Nyomie) Heimerl and seven great-grandchildren, Finley, Ellis, Ryatt, and Hazen Heimerl, Riley and Emmery Heimerl, Liam Heimerl, Dalton and Carter Cole. Carol is also survived by two sisters, Donna (David) Schmid of Suwanee, Ga., and Jo Ann (Mitch) Moyle of Horicon, Wis., and sister-in-law Kristine (Harry Stein) Heimerl of Madison, Wis., and brother-in-law Tony (Chris) Heimerl of Kewaskum, Wis., and their families.
A Celebration of Carol’s Life will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 11 a.m. at the Krueger Family Funeral Home, Tomahawk. The Rev. Amy Heimerl will officiate. The family will receive friends at Krueger Family Funeral Home on Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until the hour of service at 11 a.m. All are welcome to wear something purple in honor of Carol. Memorials are appreciated to the Salvation Army Happy Kids Backpack Program in Tomahawk.
Carol’s family thanks the doctors, nurses, and staff at Marshfield Medical Centers – Minocqua and Weston, Milestone Senior Living, and Compassus Hospice Care for their exceptional care of Carol and her family. They also deeply thank Ties That Bind Us and the many friends who supported and cared for Carol and them during her cancer journey. You may view the obituary and share online condolences at www.kruegerfamilyfuneral.com.