Carol M. Raeder, age 97 of Shawano, passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, July 18, 2023, at the Cottages Memory Care Unit in Shawano. Carol was born December 11, 1925, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Marie (Clasen) Kerr. She grew up on a farm located on Lulu Lake near Troy Center, Wisconsin. Besides helping with household and outdoor duties, there was always swimming, fishing, and frogging in the summer and skating and sledding in the winter. Carol attended primary school and three years of high school in East Troy, graduating from Whitewater City High School. She enjoyed band, choir, class plays, and public speaking classes as well as her regular classes. Following high school Carol went to work as a parts inspector in a war plant, Waukesha Motor Company, where they manufactured airplane motors and parts for Nordin Bomb Sights. When the war ended the women had to give up their jobs to the returning men, so Carol went to work as a waitress and a cook at a little place called Park Lunch. In 1948, she met and married Merlyn Childs from Bowler. The couple moved to Rhinelander to operate a bar and restaurant. Merlyn died in an auto accident in 1951, just north of Phlox. Carol and her children, Deborah and Merlyn, moved to Shawano where the children attended Lake Drive School. Carol actively supported the school and organized a 4H group which she helped for ten years. For added income, she also clerked and worked in restaurants. Carol became a member of the First Methodist Church in Shawano, now known as the Church on the Hill, U.M.C. Over the years she taught Sunday School, served as superintendent, and was on several church committees. Carol also served 25 years on the District and Conference Mission Committee, District Superintendency Nominating Committee and Council, and on the Conference Committee of Education, reconciling ministry and social concerns. On August 28, 1962, Carol married Robert Raeder. He preceded her in death on May 22, 2001. In 1966 Carol helped organize the Menominee Ministry of the Methodist Church and was active with the ministry for over 25 years. In 1984, she and other church members began the Methodist Food Pantry, now known as SFPK. Carol was also a 50-year member of O.E.S.
Survivors include her children, Deborah Peterman of Green Bay, Merlyn (Lisa) Childs of Shawano, and Gerald (Janice) Raeder of Florida; her daughter-in-law, Kathy Raeder of Shawano; her grandchildren, Sarah Alm, Adam Peterman, Melissa Childs, Stephen Childs, Jamie (Brian) Jensen, Jason Raeder, Dustin Steenbock, Timothy (Amanda) Schider and Anna Schider; and
fifteen greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands, Merlyn Childs, and Robert Raeder; and her brothers, Aubrey, Cyril, Feerick, Warner, Clayton, and Charles Kerr.
A memorial service for Carol will be held on Monday, July 31, 2023, at 11:00 am at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Pastor Moira Finley will officiate. Burial will take place at Lake Drive Cemetery in Shawano. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 10:00 am and continue until the time of service.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
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