Caroline Louise Harmon's Obituary
Big Rapids - Caroline Louise Harmon, 84, of Big Rapids, passed away Friday May 4, 2018 at her residence at the Brook Retirement Center.
She was born March 20, 1934 in Bad Axe, the daughter of Jacob and Mary Jane (Kniesel) Stiefel, and graduated from Midland High School in 1952. Carol received her RN from St. Mary's School of Nursing in 1955, and earned her B.S. in Nursing from Central Michigan University in 1957. Later that year, Carol moved to Big Rapids, and worked at Ferris State University as Director of Health Services, she later worked for, and served as Director of Nursing at Greenridge Nursing Home.
Carol was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Big Rapids. She served on several local boards and committees, including the M.O.I.S.D. Board, the Hospital Auxiliary Board, and the Friends of the Community Library Board. Carol enjoyed downhill skiing, gardening, playing bridge, and world travel with her husband, visiting 40 countries.
On August 2, 1958 she married Denver "Chuck" Harmon who survives. She is also survived by three children, Steven (Julie) Harmon, of Grand Rapids, Michael (Cindy) Harmon of Grand Rapids, and Anne Orlowski of Germantown, WI; 6 grandchildren, Jamie (Nick) Jordan, Mathew (Pagiel) Harmon, Stephanie (Charles Bazan) Harmon, Zachary (Abby) Harmon, Gregory Harmon, and Nicholas (Dana) Harmon; 4 great-grandchildren, Collins, Maxwell, Eli, and Beckett, (with one more on the way); 2 sisters, Mary Williams and Martha Coleman; 2 brothers, William (Caroline) Stiefel and Robert (Verlene) Stiefel; 2 sisters-in-law, Bernice Stiefel and Joan Stiefel; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law James Orlowski, brothers Jacob and Peter, sisters and brothers-in-law Catherine and Conrad Lockert and Sophie and Charles Connors, and brothers-in-law Alpha Williams and James Coleman.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Big Rapids, with Rev. John Bookshaw officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland View Cemetery. Carol's family will greet friends at the Mohnke Funeral Home on Monday, May 7, from 6-8 p.m., and at the church after 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Memorial contributions in Carol's name may be made to, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Friends of the Community Library, or Spectrum Health Hospice, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
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