Carolyn Lou Appel

Carolyn Lou Appel, age 82, of Thomson, IL, gained her angel wings Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at Allure Nursing Home, in Mt. Carroll, IL. A funeral service will be held Friday, October 21, 2022, at First Lutheran Church in Chadwick, at 11 a.m. Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. before the service. Burial will follow at Fairhaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Carolyn’s family and will be used for charitable holiday gifts for children.

Carolyn was born February 19, 1940, in Fulton, IL, the daughter of Lawrence and Ethel (Hedberg) Knapp. She attended Fulton Schools, graduating from Fulton High School with the class of 1958. She then enrolled in Northern Illinois University, graduating with a degree in elementary education.

On December 22, 1962, Carolyn married Everett Appel at Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton, IL. They would go on to have three children and celebrate 59 years of marriage. Carolyn began her teaching career in Sterling, then continued in Thomson after she and Everett settled there to raise their family.

Carolyn will be remembered as a loving mother and wonderful grandmother. She adored her family and made every effort to be at school activities and sporting events. She’d regularly cheer on her Iowa Hawkeyes, every year looking forward to her favorite season, fall, when she’d be glued to the TV for football. When she found some free time, she would often cozy up with a good book, and probably a chocolate treat or two.

Family, faith, and community were of the utmost importance to Carolyn. She routinely volunteered at her church, joining bible study groups and teaching Sunday school. She also spent many years volunteering at local hospitals as an auxiliary member and enjoyed helping grade school students make candles. Family and friends alike will miss the joy Carolyn spread to those around her.

Carolyn will be dearly missed by her husband, Everett; children, Susan (Gary) Foltz, LeAnne (Kent) Langholz, and Aaron (Melinda) Appel; grandchildren, Whitney (Sarah) Domres, Timothy (Ben Kirk) Foltz, Katie (Cassidy Sparks) Langholz, Sarah Langholz, Chaz Taylor, Claire Taylor, Nicholas Langholz, Tyler Appel, and Andrew Appel; great-grandchildren, Kamden and Braelyn; and sister, Betty Happel. Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Ethel, and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.