Obit: Carroll, Oliver Lester (1917 - 2008)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Aselson, Carroll, Dunford, Fuchs, Hogenson, Holtz, Kautzer, Lewer, Pokorny, Rasmussen, Rogers, Woelfle

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI), Wednesday, December 18, 2008, Online Edition

Caroll, Oliver Lester (October 24, 1917 - December 14, 2008)

Oliver Lester Carroll, 91, longtime resident of the Town of Goodrich, died Sunday, Dec. 14 at his home under the care of Hope Hospice and Palliative Care.

He was born in Chicago, Ill., on October 24, 1917, the fifth of seven children, to Oliver and Freda (Woelfle) Carroll.

His family moved to a farm in Little Black during the Depression.

Oliver left school during the seventh grade, worked in the woods and jumped freight trains until age 17 when he began an eight-year job as a switchman at the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy rail yards in Cicero, Ill.

His marriage to Edna Rogers of Goodrich took place on March 10, 1937, and together they had three children, Albert, Madeline and Elizabeth.

Oliver and his family moved back to Taylor County in 1942, where they logged and milked cows on County Road M in the Town of Greenwood.

Oliver was drafted into the Army in 1945, serving one year. Upon his return home, the family settled in the Town of Goodrich where he was a dairy farmer for 32 years, then raised veal calves for another 13 years.

Oliver was proud of being a farmer and spoke often of the mistreatment of the American small farmer by those in power. Never one to hide his opinion, Oliver always made his view clear concerning politics, social issues and any other topic that entered the conversation.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Edna; one daughter, Elizabeth Carroll of Freedom; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Carroll of Medford; one son-in-law, Gerald (and wife Marlene) Holtz of Rib Lake; six grandchildren, Debbie (and husband Wayne) Fuchs of Medford, Michael Holtz of Long Beach, Calif., Dean (and wife Loni) Carroll of Pardeeville, Derek Carroll of Medford, Jennifer (and husband Nick) Hogenson of Wautoma and Megan Carroll of Freedom; 11 great-grandchildren, Joshua and Andrea Fuchs, Jake and Alex Holtz, Haliegh, Holland, Helena and Harmony Hoganson, Nicholas and Travis Carroll and Tim (and wife Devon) Lewer; one great-great-grandchild, Tihana; and numerous relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Albert Carroll; one daughter, Madeline Holtz; a brother, Marvin Carroll; sisters, Helen Pokorny, Alfrieda Kautzer, Marion Aselson, Winifred Rasmussen and Anna Dunford.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Dallmann-Kniewel Funeral Home in Medford, with Chaplain David Clements officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. prior to the service, with interment in Evergreen Cemetery II with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Dean Carroll, Derek Carroll, Wayne Fuchs, Gerald Holtz and Andrea Fuchs. Luncheon will follow service and burial at BS Bar & Catering (formerly Old Corners).

Memorial contributions in honor of Oliver may be given to Hope Hospice and Palliative Care.