Carol Emmeck 01/20/2024

Carol Ann (Geisenhoff) Emmeck, 86, passed away peacefully at her home on January 20, 2024, surrounded by family.

Carol was born in St. Paul on November 11, 1937 to Vivian and Jerome Geisenhoff. She was raised in St. Paul and attended grade school at St. John’s Catholic School, going on to graduate from Harding High School.

When she was fifteen, Carol met the love of her life, Carroll (Duke) Emmeck at the Rocky Inn in St. Paul. Duke noticed how pretty Carol was, but he was too shy to talk to her. The following week, they met again. Soon afterwards, they went on their first date, and the rest is history! It was true love. They were married on October 15, 1955 in Mason City, Iowa.

The couple settled on their farm in Houlton, Wisconsin and raised their five children: Bernadine, Toni, Mike, Jack, and Tracy and their niece, Vickie. Carol was an avid gardener, planting a huge garden every year and sharing the bounty with family and friends, as well as canning many quarts of tomatoes and pickles each year.

Carol was at home in the kitchen, and she put a lot of love into her cooking. She was famous for her spaghetti sauce, potato salad, and all of her home-cooked meals. This generous hospitality extended to her work, and she was a dedicated waitress at the Pool and Yacht Club in St. Paul for 37 years.

Saturday was Carol’s bingo day. She looked forward to this weekly bingo day and loved her bingo friends. She enjoyed a good cheeseburger accompanied by fries and potato chips.

But most of all, Carol loved her family. She was a loving wife to her husband of 68 years, Duke, and Duke dearly loved her in return, caring for her in her final years with great devotion. Carol was a selfless mother to her five children and their spouses, and she was a thoughtful grandmother and great-grandmother. Whenever she went shopping, if she saw an item that reminded her of one of them, she would buy it for them. She was also a devoted aunt to her many nieces and nephews, loving them as if they were her own.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian and Jerome Geisenhoff, as well as her five siblings and son-in-law, Jerry Thake. She is survived by her loving husband, Duke; five children, Bernie (Jerry) Kroseman, Toni Thake, Mike (Lana) Emmeck, Jack (Sue) Emmeck, and Tracy (Don) Schachtner; sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial gathering was held on Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation services in New Richmond, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mayo Clinic, where Carol was treated for years. Or you may pick a charity that is close to your heart.