Obituary of Carole Mae Grathen

Carole Mae Grathen   

Born:    July 7, 1927     

Moved to Heaven: August 28, 2017              

Carole Mae Grathen (nee Glawe), aged 90, of Camdenton, Missouri moved to Heaven to sing with the Choir of Angels on Monday, August 28, 2017.

Carole was born on July 7, 1927 in Iron Mountain, Michigan, the only child of Melbert and Virginia (Lueke) Glawe.   The family spent most of Carole’s childhood in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Carole was renowned for her beautiful soprano voice and performed in operettas, musicals, on television, at special events, at Packer games, and in the church choir for most of her life. 

Carole married Richard (Dick) Grathen on June 21, 1947 in Green Bay.  Over the next 19 years she stayed very busy as a wife, and mother of seven children.  She and Dick enjoyed boating and at one time owned a restored tug boat they navigated in the Green Bay and the Fox River.  After Dick retired they traveled extensively, often visiting their widely scattered adult children.

After Dick’s passing in 1996, she moved with two of her children to the Lake of the Ozarks where she was a faithful volunteer at the Lamb’s House as well as the Camdenton Senior Center for about 10 years.  Her service there was recognized by the Governor of Missouri on the occasion of her retirement from the Center in May, 2012.

Carole loved to read, work crossword puzzles and watch TV games shows.  As a child, her nickname was Sunny. She never had an unkind word for anyone and she cheerfully greeted everyone who crossed her path. 

On the occasion of Carole’s 90th birthday in July 2017, while her health was still relatively good, most of her family gathered and celebrated her life.  It was a wonderful, extended family time that Carole enjoyed immensely.

Carole is survived by six of her seven children, Kristine (Gary) Barnes of Cary, NC; Randy (Laurie) Grathen of Camdenton, MO; Lynn (David) Trickle of Linn Creek, MO; Scott (Laura) Grathen of Green Bay, WI; Terri (Frank) Lyss of Gaastra, MI; and Mark Grathen of Camdenton, MO.  She is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Husband Dick; son Rick; and grandson Damien Hill preceded her in death.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Camdenton Senior Center Garden Project.

Services will be held at a later date.