Carolyn L. Blomquist

Carolyn Louise Blomquist, 94, of Norway, MI died peacefully at Evergreen Meadows on November 3, 2014. Carolyn was born June 12, 1920. She began school when she was 4 years old, because she was bored staying home while her older siblings went to school. This love of learning continued all of her life. Carolyn also began sewing as a child, leading to her pursuit of a home economics teaching degree from the University of Madison in 1942. Carolyn continued to sew throughout her life, blessing many family members with quilts and other handmade gifts. After college, Carolyn began her teaching career in 1942 at the Felch School teaching Home Ec. On her first day of work, she was introduced to the brother of the superintendent, Clarence Blomquist. Their relationship grew, and a wedding was planned, but Clarence was called to serve his country and Carolyn went to Wausaukee to teach Home Ec. the following year. Clarence returned home to his farm, and they were married on June 17, 1944. A daughter and a son joined the family, and Carolyn put her home ec skills to good use caring for her family. In 1954, Felch needed an elementary teacher, and her brother-in-law asked Carolyn to teach again. She went back to school, teaching Kindergarten through second grade at the Felch, Channing, and Foster City Schools until the North Dickinson School District was formed in 1971. She taught at North Dickinson until retiring in 1978. In 1957, Clarence came in the house from the barn and asked, "What would you think if I went to college?" Thus began a new chapter in their lives. Clarence completed his teaching degree in 1961 at 49 years old. Carolyn was delighted to say goodbye to the cows and have her husband be a teacher instead. Another chapter in their lives began in 1969. This time it was Carolyn who asked the question. "Wouldn't it be fun to travel in Europe?" That summer, they took a trip through 15 countries of Europe and they continued to travel for many years after that, eventually visiting England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Yugoslavia, Russia, Luxemburg, Belgium, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Cypress, Greece, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Brazil, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, the Phillipines, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. She took cruises to the Caribbean, Mediteranean and Aegean Sea, and one from Spain to Turkey. Closer to home, she traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, the Carolinas, Mackinac Island, Arkansas, the New England States, Nevada, Colorado, California, the Deep South, Arizona, Texas, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Mississippi, and North and South Dakota. After retiring, Clarence and Carolyn moved to Kingsford. Carolyn began volunteering at the Breen Senior Center, once more putting her sewing skills to work as she cut and sewed carpet rags for the center. She volunteered at the Breen Center for 20 years. Carolyn and Clarence also joined a bowling league for many years in Kingsford and won several trophies. Carolyn had a life-long love of books, owning an extensive library and always having a book or two "in progress", especially enjoying biographies and faithfully reading "The Daily Bread". She loved her 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She enjoyed having her family over for Christmas, birthdays, July 4, and many other times through the years. She always cooked wonderful meals, putting more of those home ec skills to good use. Carolyn also liked going to family reunions and thoroughly enjoyed being able to go to the reunion in 2014 and seeing family members and friends. Our family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Evergreen Assisted Living in Kingsford and Norway for taking such good care of Carolyn during the last several years of her life. Carolyn is survived by her children, Gay (Wayne) Funderburg of Quinnesec and Gary (Cheri) Blomquist of Sparks, NV; grandchildren, Carianne Blomquist of San Francisco, CA, Adam Blomquist of Sparks, NV, Scott (Amy) Blomquist of Sparks, NV, Tim Funderburg of Williston, ND; and Hope (Bruce) Aderman of Quinnesec and their children Isaac, Melody, Grace and Charity, as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband Clarence and two grandchildren, Carolyn is preceeded in death by her four brothers, Gustav, Henry, John and Fred Busse; and three sisters, Martha Mleziva, Emma Brown and Esther Schneider. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 29 with visiting from 10:00 to 11:30 at the Community Bible Chapel of Norway, MI. The service will follow at 11:30 with Pastor Rich Yates officiating. Burial was in the Dickinson County Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Carolyn L. Blomquist online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Carolyn L. Blomquist

June 12, 1920 - November 3, 2014