Carol A. Eckelberg Osteboe, 85, of Wilton passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at her home after her two-year battle with cancer.
She was born Feb. 1, 1934, to Albert George and Almeda Tonn Eckelberg. Carol Ann was baptized by Rev. Carl Berg at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ridgeville and confirmed by Rev. Raymond Meyer at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wilton. She grew up in the village and graduated with the Wilton High School Class of 1951 as valedictorian.
Carol graduated from Luther Hospital School of Nursing in Eau Claire in 1954. She earned a B.S. in Nursing Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1960. Her work was primarily in the Veterans Administration Hospitals in Tomah and Minneapolis.
Carol joined the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1961. Five days after being sworn in, President Kennedy activated the ANG for a year of Air Force active duty during the Second Berlin Crisis. Carol became one of the “founders” of the 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Flight and trained as a flight nurse. She left the ANG in 1965 with rank of captain.
On Oct. 20, 1963, Carol married Harlow (“Bud”/Hal) Osteboe. They lived 30 years in Wheaton, Ill.; Bud, a pilot for United Airlines, commuted to O’Hare. An active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Ill., she participated in Stephen Ministry.
In 1996, Carol and Bud moved to Wilton, built their rural retirement home, and became active members of St. Paul’s. She was president of W-ECLA from 1999–2006 and introduced and organized the Prayer Chain in 2001.
Carol is survived by her loving caretaker husband of 55 years, Bud; two sons, Thor (Megan) of Plymouth, Minn., and Paul of Golden, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Sara of Fort Collins, Colo., Gunnar, Karenna, Kirsten, and Maren all of Plymouth, Minn., and Jiselle and Gretchen, both of Golden, Colo.; and a host of beloved cousins, relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Merlyn, in June 2018.
A Celebration of Life Service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 1, 2019, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Wilton. Pastor Cathleen Morris will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday, June 30, from 4–7 p.m. at Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton. Burial will be private at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Carol may be made to St. Paul’s Scholarship Fund.
The family would like to thank the medical staff at the Gundersen Clinic Oncology Department and the nurses with Tomah Hospice Touch.
The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
