Carol Eileen Schwartz

Carol Eileen (Thelen) Schwartz, age 73, of Menahga, MN, took God’s hand and followed him to heaven and is finally comfortable after fighting failing health. She passed away in the early hours of Saturday, November 30, 2024, with her loving family by her side, at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, MN, where she has resided for the past year and a half.

Carol Thelen was born on December 17, 1950, to the late Joseph Sr. and Hortense (Woeste) Thelen at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids, MN. Being born just a week before Christmas she was given the name Carol. Carol grew up near Two Inlets, MN, with her parents and 14 siblings, the youngest 6 being all girls, giving her parents a lot of challenges.

Carol attended Park Rapids area schools and graduated with the class of 1969. After high school, she attended Detroit Lakes Technical School majoring in cooking and chef’s training. She then worked as a prep cook and waitress at Antler’s Restaurant in Park Rapids, MN. On August 26, 1972, Carol married a quiet farm boy from Menahga named Russell Schwartz. They were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets, MN. They were then blessed with 2 children, Roxanne, and Clyde. Carol had a deep but quiet faith in her Lord and Savior. 

Carol and Russell lived for a brief time in Park Rapids until they bought a small farm near Menahga and started a small herd of dairy cattle. Carol worked with her husband in the hayfields putting up countless bales of hay. She liked to garden and mow the lawn. Mowing the lawn was her thing walking miles behind her push mower. In 1985, they moved to their farm on highway 87 where Carol resided until failing health required the care of the nursing home. Besides farming, Carol also worked alongside Russell cutting and splitting countless cords of firewood and pulp wood to sell. Carol loved to laugh and say things that made others laugh. She was an avid soap opera fan and loved reading and her word search books. 

Carol will be thought of fondly by her husband of 52 years, Russell Schwartz of Menahga, MN; daughter, Roxanne (Daniel) Gilbert of Menahga, MN; son, Clyde Schwartz of Menahga, MN; sisters: Marie Kueber of Two Inlets, MN, Patricia Boyd of Osage, MN, Adeline Retz (Gary Geller) of Park Rapids, MN, Norma Thelen of Mesa, AZ, Christine (Duane) Kueber of Park Rapids, MN, Victoria (Kirk) Dittmer of Wabeno, WI, and Virginia (Glenn) Anderson of Waubon, MN; brother, Robert (Cheryl) Thelen of Monticello, MN; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Winnie Thelen of Park Rapids, MN, Kathleen Shepersky of Menahga, MN, Karen Jonas of Osage, MN, Bernice (Allen) Skaro of Menahga, MN, Barbara (Steve) Frame of Nevis, MN, Sarah (Curtis) Howard of Menahga, MN, Edwin (Barb) Schwartz of Menahga, MN, Roy (Brenda) Schwartz of Frazee, MN, and Lyle (Denise) Schwartz of Menahga, MN; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends.

Going before Carol on their heavenly journey are her parents: Joseph Sr. and Hortense Thelen; father-in-law, Elmer Schwartz; mother-in-law, Lyyli Schwartz; sisters: Margaret Thelen, Catherine Schoen, Fran Morris, and Donna Anderson; sisters-in-law: Barb Thelen and Stella Schwartz; brothers: Thomas, Loren, and Joseph Thelen, Jr.; brothers-in-law: Norman Hasbrouck, Paul Shepersky, Edwin Makinen, Edward Jonas, Ted Schoen, Lynn Morris, Donnie Anderson, George Kueber, Richard Retz, and James Boyd; nieces: Susan Boyd, Jada Hasbrouck, and Tammy Basswood; and nephews: Thomas Kueber, Brian Thelen, and Erwin Makinen. 

Visitation for Carol will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN, with a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue for one hour before the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am on Monday, December 9, 2024, at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN. Interment will take place on the Runeberg side of Green Valley Cemetery in Menahga, MN.