Carol N. Kalscheur

MADISON - Carol Nancy (Halverson) Kalscheur, a beautiful soul who brought music and joy to many, passed peacefully on Friday, March 15, 2024, surrounded by love and holding the hand of the love of her life, Daniel Kalscheur. Her life was special from the start. One of four babies born in Madison on Christmas Day, 1938, her photo appeared on the front page of the Wisconsin State Journal. Her parents, Wilford and Ollie Halverson, did not realize it at the time, but by naming her Carol, they created the most beautiful Christmas Carol ever. She spent her life living up to that name.

Carol showed her spunk from the start, the only girl surrounded by boys - two brothers at home and seven male classmates at her one room schoolhouse. She played sports and games with the best of them. However, it was in music that she really shined and would make her mark on the world.

She graduated as valedictorian from Deerfield High School in 1957 and from UW-Madison in 1961. In between those dates, she married her high school sweetheart on June 20, 1959. In many ways, she and Dan were opposites, but their love that started when she was 15 was strong as ever at 85. Her other loves were her family and music. Carol taught general music, band & choir grades 1-12 at Brooklyn area schools and also high school choir at Oregon High School her first year of teaching. Following the birth of son Michael and daughter Kristine, she taught for 32 years at DeForest School District. Multi-generations of students benefited from her knowledge of music, love of others and zest for life. She taught general music, guitar, piano, and music history. Most importantly she gave them experiences. The love her students had for her was evident by the large percentage of the school who joined her choirs. Doing the choreography herself, Carol had two show choirs who entertained many groups. They were chosen as a demonstration group for the North Central American Choral Director’s convention in Madison. The 145-voice 7th/8th grade choir was chosen by audition to perform at the Wisconsin Choral Director’s Association convention at Lawrence College in 1983. In the 1990s, the DMS choir and the show choirs sang in Chicago several years with 6,000 other choir members from the Midwest to raise money for food for disadvantaged kids.

Even with her busy schedule, she also became a girl scout co-leader extraordinaire. Naturally, she turned the girl scout troop into a performing show choir. During the ultimate road trip in which Carol and her co-leader each drove a van full of girls, they delighted campers at each KOA campground on the way to Girl Scout Center West in Wyoming. Other highlights of that trip included Devil’s Tower, Mount Rushmore, and Yellowstone.

After retirement, Carol’s love of music found other outlets and complemented her strong faith. She sang in three church choirs in Madison. She belonged to and played piano for XYZ, a senior organization at Bethel Lutheran Church, where she was also an active member of Abigail Circle. For more than 25 years, Carol was a volunteer usher at the Madison Performing Arts Center. Being active in Madison was not enough for Carol, she also started a choir at Salem Lutheran Church in Shell Lake, Wis. Carol’s favorite destination from June to October was the cottage at Shell Lake, Wis. She especially enjoyed having her children and their families there every summer.

Carol is survived by husband, Dan; two children, Michael (Val) Kalscheur of Acworth, Ga. and Kristine (Vic) Rodell of Island Lake, Ill.; four grandchildren, Britney Orsborne and Kyle Kalscheur of Acworth, Ga., Nicholas (Alicia) of Union Grove, Wis., and Jacob Rodell of Island Lake, Ill.; and two great-grandchildren, Conner Woods and Haley Rodell.  She is further survived by her brother-in-law, Don (Tina) Kalscheur and sisters-in-law, Judy Halverson Dorshorst, Rita (Gene) Fredenberg, Marguerite (Pete Zeimet) Ware, Joan Strandlie, Mary Ann Simon, Lorna Daugherty, and Irene (Gene) Hart; and many dear nieces and nephews. Carol was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Eugene and Harley Halverson; two sisters-in-law, Carol Jean Halverson and Judy Baldwin; three brothers-in-law Curt Strandlie, Jack Simon, Duane Daugherty; and two nieces, Carrie Halverson Jacobs and Karen Baldwin.

A memorial service will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2024. A visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, and also at the church from 12 noon until the time of the service on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, Carol expressed her wish that you give memorials in her name to Bethel Lutheran Church, Salem Lutheran Church in Shell Lake, American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.

Music and Carol were synonymous. She saw good in all people, love in music, and faith in God. She is in heaven now, directing a choir of angels. Think of her as you let music lift your soul.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420