Full Obituary

     CAROL N. CHMELIK, of Thorp, WI, passed away peacefully at Clark County Rehabilitation & Living Center in Owen on Monday, September 30, 2024.  Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Monday, October 7, 2024 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp.  Rev. Stanislaus Michael Antony will officiate, and burial will follow in St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be: Aaron Chmelik, Jared Chmelik, Josh Chmelik, Kayla Szajko, Makenzie Chmelik, Ryan Chmelik, Trevor Chmelik, and Zach Chmelik.  Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 10:30am until time of service.   
     Carol Nadine Crawford was born on November 30, 1945 in Chippewa Falls, WI to Allen B. and Donna N. (Congdon) Crawford.  After graduating from Cornell High School, Carol attended Rice Lake Technical College where she met and married her husband, Ronald Chmelik in 1967.  She may be best remembered for her years of service as a convenience store clerk in Thorp, where her warm and friendly demeanor always brightened the days of all her customers.  Carol had a remarkable ability to make even the simplest interactions feel special.
     She enjoyed cooking and baking, while always trying out new recipes.  She especially enjoyed creating delicious treats and beautifully decorated cakes to celebrate special events, always leaving a lasting impression on the hearts – and taste buds – of her loved ones.  Carol also had an affinity for owls.  She found so much beauty and majesty within her owl collection.  This included her owl guardian that stood watch over her flower gardens she tended to every year, bringing even more beauty and color into our lives.  Carol’s favorite memories were of the many camping excursions on the shores of Coon Fork and Mead lakes with her husband and children.  As an avid crafter, she also embraced each camping outing as an opportunity to work on her various craft and crocheting projects, inspiring those around her with her creativity and passion.
      Carol is survived by her husband of 57 years, Ron, of Thorp; her sons: Paul (Trish) Chmelik of Altoona, Tim (Colleen) Chmelik of Fall Creek, Jeff (Karen) Chmelik of Thorp, Mike (Kathy) Chmelik of Fall Creek, and Christopher Chmelik of Chippewa Falls; nine grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and her sister, Gloria Naumann, of Eau Claire.
     She was preceded in death by her parents, and her daughter, Lori Ann.