Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
DENVER, Colo. - Long-time Lake Gogebic, Mich., resident Caroline L. (Gedda) Wanek died peacefully in her sleep on April 26, 2018, at home, in Denver.
Caroline experienced a stroke at her Lake Gogebic home in early September of 2017. In December, she relocated to Denver, where she spent the last four months of her life in the care and company of family. Caroline was the only child of Michael A. Gedda and Pauline Regoni Gedda. She was born on Feb. 23, 1928, in Bessemer, Mich. Her dearest childhood - and lifelong - friend was her cousin, Caroline Negri Thomasini.
While in college, Caroline met Robert (Bob) F. Wanek. The love-struck couple eloped by driving an old hearse to Chicago, where they watched a Cubs' game after their nuptials. Caroline was now an Army wife. For the next 30 years, Caroline packed up her growing family and relocated to the next military assignment, supporting her husband and children through the many changes.
They lived in Michigan, Wisconsin, Austria, Italy, Ohio, Kansas, Virginia, Germany, Maryland and Texas. Caroline parented solo when Bob was serving in Korea, and in Vietnam twice. After Bob retired from the military in 1975, the couple moved back to the Great Northwoods, and made their home on Lake Gogebic.
A life-long learner, Caroline had a passion for art, literature, quilting, rock hounding, crossword puzzles, bridge, scrabble and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, who died in 2008.
She is survived by her four children and in-laws: Barbara A. (Wanek) and Phil Dunnet, of Dallas, Tex .; Susan L. (Wanek) and Gib Brumback, of Spokane, Wash .; Michael C. and Jan Wanek, of New Braunfels, Tex., and Carol E. (Wanek) and Don Campbell, of Denver. Caroline had 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Caroline and Bob's ashes were scattered together at Three Cedars in June of 2018. There will be a memorial headstone for the couple at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.
