Carol Martha (Kahn) Schlegel, 72
Carol Martha (Kahn) Schlegel, 72, passed 'from this life to the next' Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at her home in Kalispell, 'on a cloud of love, good wishes and prayers.' She was born Aug. 22, 1934, in Malta to George and Lillian (Evenson) Kahn.
Soon after her birth, her family moved to the Swan River area, where they lived until moving to Kalispell in 1939. Carol met and married the love of her life, Bill Schlegel, and they had 56 wonderful years together. Although she worked at various jobs, her true life's work was the raising of their children and making their home a happy, warm and inviting place.
Over the years, Carol was active in the Friendship Club, the Flathead Pioneer Auto Club and Bible Study Fellowship. She was also an avid sports fan — as long as the sport was one in which one of her kids and grandkids was participating.
What she lacked in formal education, Carol made up for, in useful, hands-on knowledge. She had a lifelong interest in genealogy and, before the computer, kept the family tree in her head. Although she explained over and over again which cousin's second wife had the son who married the neighbor's aunt's older sister, the rest of us could never quite keep it straight.
Carol didn't have a degree in engineering, but could build cakes, dolls, clothing, quilts and parties without blinking. She was a gracious hostess and set a table to put Martha Stewart (and the daughters-in-law) to shame. Everyone was welcome in her home and at her table. None of her children, grandchildren or their friends were ever turned away, and no one left the house hungry if she had anything to say about it. She showed us all how much we were loved by keeping open house 365 days a year.
A kind, gracious and loving woman, Carol was the glue that held her family together, and her arms were always open to encompass newcomers into her circle of love. Our lives will never be quite the same and we look forward to seeing her in heaven.
Carol was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Lillian and Clarence Atteberry; her father, George Kahn; and a sister, Delores Kahn.
She is now survived by her husband, Bill Schlegel, of Kalispell; four sons, Leslie Schlegel and wife, Mary, Ron Schlegel and wife, Vickie, Mike Schlegel and wife, Julaine, and Mark Schlegel and Codi, all of Kalispell; one daughter, Sandy Manning, and husband, Jeff, of Laurenceberg, Ind.; grandchildren, Wayne Schlegel and Denise, Jerry Schlegel and Tanya, Karen Graham and Scott, Priscilla, Alex and Hannah Schlegel, Shannah Billington and Tony, Jessa and Karsen Manning, Kaylynn, Kylie and Kayden Schlegel, and Kahn Schlegel; great-grandchildren, Royce and Shelby Schlegel, Casey Marquete, Marlie and Ashlyn Graham, Dylan Billington, Joel Turner and Kobe Schlegel; siblings, George Kahn and Carla; Dorothy McMillan, Betty Farris, and Tom and Carol Hamlik; also numerous nieces and nephews; Aunt Dolly Evenson, and dear friends, Barb Bennett, Roy and Phyllis Caldwell, Cleo Keenen and Violet Saimo; and very special cousin, Leonna, and husband, Lou, Udahl and family.
Funeral services for Carol Martha Schlegel will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the Christian Center, with graveside services afterward and a reception at the Eagles Hall in Kalispell.
The family respectfully suggests memorials to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT or Shodair Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 5539, Helena MT 59604.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Carol's Family.