Carole Engel

Carole Engel, passed away June 1st, 2025, at the age of 79. Carole held many roles at Carleton, including as the Secretary to Associate Dean of the College (1980-1987), Coordinator of Special Projects & Events (1987-1988), Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College (1988-1990), and as both Secretary and Administrative Assistant of the Music Department (1990-2014). She will be dearly missed.

A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church in Cannon Falls on Friday, June 20 at 2:30 pm. Below is her formal obituary.

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Carole passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 1, at the age of 79. Born in Taylorville, Illinois, on August 11, 1945, Carole was a cherished daughter of Charles and Florence Dewhirst. She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Charlene and Kathleen, niece Melissa, and nephew Barry.

Carole leaves behind her beloved and devoted husband of 28 years, Jerry, who was her rock and partner in life’s adventures. She is survived by her children: sons Richard (Heidi) Stevens, Mike (Renee) Stevens, Joshua (Andrea) Mueller, and Richard (Engel); daughters Andrea (Melissa) Feller, and Teresa (Michael) Johnson. She was a loving and supportive grandmother to Erika (Rick), Jake, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Maisy, Josie, Brock (Shea), Catherine (Benjamin), Hunter (Anna), Lily (Blair), Noor, and proud great grandmother to Maeve, Liv, and Nora. She is also survived by her brother Lee Don (Candy) Dewhirst, brother-in-law Ole Christiansen, and sisters Pamela (Robert) Bellman, Camille (Steve) Mast, and Beryl Martin, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

To those fortunate enough to know her, Carole was a beacon of quiet strength and organization, engaging in life and love with a no-nonsense approach. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved. Carole relished life’s simple pleasures, from enjoying the occasional martini with friends, crafting the newest baby quilt, cooking supper for a neighbor, playing cribbage, winning at euchre, and spending treasured moments with Jerry in California.

Upon retirement, Carole embraced life to the fullest after working with organizations including Ford Motor Company, the FBI, AT&T, Dow Badische Company, Control Data Corporation, Minnesota Malting Company, and finally Carleton College in Northfield, MN, where she retired after 36 years of dedicated service.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Congregational Church in Cannon Falls on Friday, June 20 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of sending flowers – and in the spirit of Carole’s regifting style (typically back to the gift giver), please snag those flowers, keep them for yourself, indulge in their beauty, and enjoy a chuckle while thinking of her. An alternative way to honor Carole would be to donate to a college music scholarship, reflecting her love for both education and music. Carole extends an open invitation to all to visit her final resting place at the Cremains section in Cannon Falls Cemetery, Lot C, NE corner, Plot No.1 – ever the planner, she always wanted to be number 1! Feel free to bring along a martini in her honor.

Carole’s spirit will forever inspire those she loved, will continue through story sharing, and she will remain in our hearts as a symbol of resilience, strength, kindness, and joy. Her recipes will bring warmth to our belly and soul.