With heavy hearts and cherished memories, we pay tribute and say our farewells to Carol Gladys Pearson, who peacefully passed away on the morning of January 28th, 2024, at the age of 91.
Carol’s life began on December 29th, 1932, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota but her earliest years were spent in a small cabin on Crane Lake in northern Minnesota before moving to Stoney Point. This marks the beginning of her lifelong love for and connection to the North Woods and Lake Superior. She spent much of her adult life in central Wisconsin but found her way back to her North Shore roots, spending her last two decades appreciating the grandeur of Lake Superior from her 4th-floor residence at Chateux Du Lac Apartments in Duluth, Minnesota; a home that consistently served as a sanctuary for her and kept her connected to the lake she loved so deeply.
Driven by her deep love for serving others and the value of connection with people, Carol pursued nursing at St. Luke’s, the hospital she was born in, and crafted a meaningful career as a Hospice Nurse in Stevens Point, WI until her retirement. Her love for fostering and maintaining connections reflected her unconditional positive regard for others; she made space for those she encountered, irrespective of their differences or circumstances.
Carol was known for being a vibrant woman who enjoyed a number of hobbies— gardening, traveling, volunteering, cooking, entertaining, reading, and continuous learning. Carol’s diverse interests proved her dedication to a life of perpetual growth and exploration. Yet, while she enjoyed and explored life, nothing was more important to her than her family. In her roles as a mother, grandmother, “Gongo,” “Gigi,” sister, daughter, and confidant, Carol cherished familial bonds above all else. A phone call or visit with a family member held far more significance for her than any material possession.
Reflecting on Carol’s remarkable life, we pay tribute to her unwavering compassion, her love of learning, and her deep appreciation for life’s simple beauties. May we draw inspiration from her graceful approach to life’s experiences and learn to embrace the subtle, simple beauty that surrounds us, especially in relationships with one another. As we celebrate and remember the legacy of this remarkable woman, may we not forget these valuable lessons she leaves behind.
She is preceded in death by her beloved father, Carl Rasmussen, her dear mother, Margit Johnson, and her sister Johanna Lutman. She is survived by her four siblings; Johnny Rasmussen, Margie (Robert) Lucas, Winston (Carol Anne) Rasmussen, and Char Ojard; Carol also leaves behind her four children; Gary (Michele) Pearson, Cathy Walters, Sandra Masterson (Jeffery), and John Pearson (Molly), her six grandchildren; Jenny Masterson, James Masterson, Ryan Walters, Kristen Hale, Chrissy Grammel, and Nathan Walters, as well as her nine great-grandchildren.
Services to celebrate the life of Carol will be held on Saturday, February 24th at 11:00 AM followed by lunch and coffee at the French River Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN. To share a memory or leave an online condolence, visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com.
