Carol P. Pink

Carol Phyllis Mickelson Pink, age 86, died on Saturday, January 19, 2013, at Orchard Manor Nursing Home in Lancaster. She was born on January 10, 1927, in Payette, Idaho, to Andrew and Hazel (Saling) Mickelson. Carol was the youngest of six sisters. After graduation from Payette High School, Carol became a stenographer with the United States Navy on Mare Island, a naval shipyard in California. It was there that she met the sailor from Wisconsin who she would marry. Carol and Stan were united in marriage on October 10, 1946, in Payette. They then returned to Lancaster where they farmed for twenty years. After retiring from the farm, they moved to town where Stan worked for Wisconsin Power and Light for seventeen years and Carol continued to raise their seven children. You could never stop by the Pinks residence without seeing and smelling freshly baked goods on the counter. Stan and Carols favorite vacations were in the mountains of Colorado. It was in those mountains that for many years they were the camp bosses for their sons hunting camps. Carol was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters of America, Homemakers, and was active in 4-H. She also worked as a secretary for St. Clement School and the Wisconsin Gas Company. Stan preceded her in death in February 2009, after sixty-two years of marriage. One of Carols sisters-in-law said it best, In all of her days at Orchard Manor, I never heard any complaints from her. She was always satisfied with whatever it was. That best describes how Carol lived her life. Carol will be missed by all who knew her and also by her second family at Orchard Manor. Many thanks to the caregivers there.

Survivors include her children: Gail (Phil) Johnston, Baraboo; Greg (Frances) Pink, Montrose, CO; Denny (Jane) Pink, Fort Collins, CO; Doug (LuAnne) Pink, Lancaster; Julie (Gary) Beach, Firestone, CO; Jay (Emily) Pink, Windsor; Patti (David) Seiler, Lancaster; sixteen grandchildren: Ginnie (Alan) Marty, Tori (Mike) Martz, Jackie (Chad) Agnew, Christopher (Traci) Pink, Charlie Pink, Jeffrey (Brenda) Pink, Matthew (Erin) Pink, Hillary (Josh) Budworth, Riley Pink, Sophie Pink, Sam Pink, Simon Pink, Leo Pink, Ashley Seiler, Miranda Seiler, and Nick Seiler; ten great-grandchildren; one sister, Marge Jacobs, Sacramento, CA; sisters and brothers-in-law: Catherine Schindler, Lancaster; Kay Pink, Monroe; Mary Lou (John) Walker, Lancaster; Joe (Shirley) Pink, Lancaster; Mickey (Tom) Thill, Baraboo.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Carol was preceded in death by four sisters; and her brothers-in-law, Donald Schindler, Mark Pink, and Norb (Shirley) Pink.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster with Father William Seipp officiating. Burial was in St. Clement Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends called on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Carol P. Pink Memorial Fund has been established. Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster is serving the family.