Carol Mae (Schumacher) Carlson, 88, of Duluth, MN, passed away on August 2, 2018 at Viewcrest Health Center. Carol was born in Superior, WI to Fred and Anna Schumacher on January 5, 1930. She went to high school at Superior Central High School and graduated in 1948. Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents, Fredrick and Anna Schumacher; her sister, Beatrice Austin; and her brother, Carl Schumacher. Carol is survived by her children, Randy (Esther) Carlson, Bonnie (Phil) Baker, Donald (Judy) Carlson II, Laurie (Richard) Stepp, Steven (Nancy) Carlson, David (Michelle) Carlson, James (Kari) Carlson, Julie (Marty) Soukup, and Jeanne (Creston) Dorothy; 32 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; siblings, Leslie, Margaret, Gilbert, Delwin, Noreen, Bernice, Robert, and Dale; and many nieces and nephews. Carol Carlson, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grand mother, aunt, sister, friend was the embodiment of God's love. She was married for 55-1/2 years to our father, her sweetheart and best friend, until his passing in 2010. Together, they raised their 5 sons, 4 daughters, and even some grandchildren. Their house on Nelson Road was built by their hands but was made a home by their love. That house, which always seemed to hold the aroma of freshly baked bread, was where she taught her daughters to sew, bake, can vegetables, and make jam; where she taught her sons to work hard, be respectful, and the best way to process a deer. It was where she taught us all to be strong; to not be afraid of getting our hands dirty; to know we could handle whatever life brought our way; to love God; and to love each other fiercely, loyally and unconditionally. She lived her life in service and devotion to others; she asked so little in return. She had so many gifts and talents. There really was nothing she couldn't do or make happen. She encouraged her children to develop their talents and always found a way, even when we didn't have the money to do it. She also seemed to have been given God's hearing, for we could get away with nothing, even whispered in the farthest corner of the house. Her hands were not the soft hands we've held for the past few years. They were rough and calloused, sometimes bleeding. There was a permanent crack in her fingernail from one of the times she sewed late into the night until she sewed her own finger and realized it was probably time to go to bed. When one of us needed something for school the next day, a pair of pants or something special needed for a field trip or a school project, it would somehow appear at the foot of our bed the next morning. Our home is where she taught us to welcome others as family into our lives. When her children married, she wholly and completely welcomed their spouses as new sons and daughters, treating them and loving them as her own. There was always room for friends at our table, always room for overnight guests, always time to give someone a hand. As she grew older, she would fill Christmas shoe boxes for the needy, sew lap quilts for the elderly and crochet caps for preemies. Nothing brought her more joy than being able to give to others. Even into her 80s, you could scarcely leave her house without her opening her pantry and telling you to "take this home for the kids." Or going to a back closet to dig something out she had picked up for you. She loved more than anything spending time surrounded by her family, and those she considered family (which were numerous), talking, laughing, singing songs, shaking dice, doing puzzles. She was so proud of all her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. We didn't have to earn her love; it overflowed easily into all of us. We will miss her warm and loving hugs, hearty laugh and beautiful smiles, sage advice, always ready and listening ears, broad shoulders to cry on, encouraging words through difficult times, solid belief in our ability to make it through, and exuberant cheering for our accomplishments. Thank you for always being there for us, for teaching us, listening to us, helping and forgiving us, paving the way for us, and always, always loving us. We will work hard to reach the standard you set. Farewell sweet Mama. You were simply magnificent. We would like to offer our sincere gratitude to the staff at Viewcrest Health Center. Carol was cared for and loved by them every day for the past four years. They sang with her, laughed and cried with her. She grew to love them like her own, as was her way. Thank you for loving our mom. Visitation will be held on August 20th at 1:00 pm at AAD Shrine, 5152 Miller Trunk Hwy., Hermantown, MN, with Memorial service to follow at 2:00 pm. Sunrise Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.

Visitation

AUG 20. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)

AAD Shriner's Center 5152 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, MN, 55811

Memorial Service

AUG 20. 2:00 PM (CDT)

AAD Shriner's Center 5152 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, MN, 55811