Carol Sue Harnack

Carol Sue Harnack (Stelhorn), 86, passed away on February 25, 2025. Jesus is not supposed to have favorites but if Carol is not His ‘Best Friend’ - I would be shocked. When describing her to friends who didn’t have the joy of meeting her, some would say, “Well think of an Angel on Earth, now you’ve pretty much got it, but with a little more sass.”

Carol possessed a servants heart and lived her life thinking more about others than she ever did herself. When she was only 15 years old, she started volunteering at a hospital in Indianapolis. By the time she was 18 she had saved enough money to attend nursing school. Carol moved a lot while having four children in her 20’s and 30’s. She moved over 20 times and was very active in every Lutheran Church in each new community. She also helped support her family being a night nurse in many different states as she moved with her husband, Andy, to further his education. She went back to school to get her BSN in nursing at EKU. This is where she found her true passion. She spent over 25 years as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Pattie A Clay Hospital in Richmond, KY. Throughout her career she helped deliver over 2,200 babies (including all 8 of her grandchildren). She gave so much to so many families, including becoming a hospice volunteer while still helping to deliver babies in Richmond, Kentucky.

Upon her retirement she became even more active in the church, starting CPR programs, being active in the choir, and participated in many outreach programs. After moving back to Kentucky in 2008 she became a member at Grace and Glory Lutheran Church in Goshen, KY. There she helped start the Bread of LIfe Food Pantry. She was passionate about making sure that patrons felt welcomed and that they were able to choose the food that they were picking up. Carol did everything job imaginable there. She took a genuine interest in the people that she was serving and helping.

She frequently spoke of “unconditional love” which is what her parents gave to her and what she wanted to share with the world. She loved unconditionally, and taught her children and grandchildren to do so also. Another one of Carol‘s greatest passions was her grandchildren. Taking cross country road trips, shuttling them to and from sporting events and parties. Always making time for them. Babysitting them for a week at a time. She took a genuine interest in their friends, passions, and hobbies.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Lillian Stellhorn; sister, Shirley Shoemaker; brother, Bruce Stellhorn; and son Krister Martin Harnack.

Carol is survived by her children, Kirk Harnack (Carmen), Lisa Simonds (Tim), and Amy Kuhn (Kevin); grandchildren, Karen Payne, Jessica Ehret, Audrey Carden, Michael Harnack, Katie Simonds, MaryCarol Kuhn, Jackson Kuhn, and Hayden Kuhn.

Carol’s Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, March 29 at Newcomer Funeral Home, East Chapel, 235 Juneau Dr., Louisville, KY 40243 from 10:30 to noon. She will have a church service at Grace and Glory Lutheran Church, 11952 W Highway 42, Goshen KY 40026 at 1:00 pm on March 29, 2025. This service is limited to family, church members, and pantry volunteers.

The family requests donations be made in Carol's honor to, Bread of Life Food Pantry, 11952 W. Highway 42, Goshen KY, 40026. 

Carol will be missed by her family and friends, but we are thankful to have known her and thankful that she is in heaven looking over all of us.