Carol McDonald

Carol McDonald

August 01, 1945 - July 19, 2025

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Obituary

MIDDLETON - Carol S. McDonald, 79, of Middleton, passed away peacefully at UW Health University Hospital on Saturday, July 19, 2025, following a sudden, unexpected illness.


She was born on August 1, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Marion and Thelma (Larson) Sullivan. Carol discovered her lifelong passion for music early on, learning to play the piano from the age of 5. Growing up she also enjoyed singing in her church choir and playing accompaniment for her school’s glee club.


Carol graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State. After college, she moved to River Falls where she raised her two sons, Mark and Paul. She worked at the local high school library before earning her Master of Divinity degree at United Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.


Carol served as a United Methodist minister for many years in small-town communities across Wisconsin - including Bay City, Platteville, Montfort, Cobb and Watertown. In addition to music, she pursued a wide range of interests: cooking, baking, reading, gardening, watching college basketball, knitting and quilting.


But her true joy was spending time with her family and friends, who will all dearly miss her.


Carol is survived by her sister, Kathryn “Kay” Kramer; two sons, Mark Henderson and Paul Henderson; and Paul’s family - daughter-in-law, Julie; and three grandchildren, Lucas, Ella and Mason. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ross McDonald; and her parents, Thelma and Marion.


A memorial service will be held at COMMUNITY OF HOPE UCC CHURCH, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison, at 12 noon on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday.


Memorials appreciated to Community of Hope UCC Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Events

29
Visitation
Tue Jul 29, 2025 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Community of Hope Church UCC • 7118 Old Sauk Rd, Madison, WI 53717
Get Directions
29
Memorial Service
Tue Jul 29, 2025 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
Community of Hope Church UCC • 7118 Old Sauk Rd, Madison, WI 53717
Get Directions
29
Luncheon After Service
Tue Jul 29, 2025 @ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
Community of Hope Church UCC • 7118 Old Sauk Rd, Madison, WI 53717
Get Directions

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Memories

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Sonja Keesey-Berg
Other •
I have been privileged to get to know Carol during this later time of her life. It was evident she loved her family. We enjoyed hot chocolate and sharing a piece of pie at the coffee shop. I am not surpriased to learn she made beautiful quilts. She enjoyed seeing the small quilt I made and bears my granddaughter was making. Flowers and music blessed her life. When exercise was offered it would get a thumbs down but a thumbs up to arranging flowers or making cookies. Her thoughtfulness and sense of humor blessed my life. I will miss this beautriful woman.
SM
Sarah Mackaman
Other •
I met Carol in third grade at David G. Perkins Elementary in Des Moines when my family moved from 11th and Euclid to 41st. She was a cute kid - funny, kind and welcoming. We moved on to Franklin Junior High where we connected with Karin and then the three of us went on to Theodore Roosevelt High and became friends with Jane, Margaret, Kathy, Barbara and Rae. Together we survived high school, gong to football and basketball games, chatting for hours on the phone and becoming bridge card sharks. We would rotate from one home to another. Bridge mix (yum!)at our hands as we bid and played the night away. Once we could drive, getting together got easier although there were occasional mishaps. We left a night basketball game one dark night to find my family's Chevy wagon had disappeared - stolen! This was before cell phones but eventually I found a pay phone and my Dad came to the rescue. We all stayed connected through our college years, marriage and young motherhood but we were geographically dispersed. Over time we drifted apart. Fortunately, our 50th TRHS. reunion got us communicating again and recently "zoom" has brought us face-to-face several times a year. In September, 2016 we then survivors (Carol, Jane, Karin, Margaret, Barbara and I) got together for the first time in decades. I've uploaded a couple of photos. Carol was a wonderful person and a loyal friend. She brought light to my life and I'm honored to call her my Bestie. Farewell, my dear. Sarah Mackaman San Jose, CA
JF
Jane Bartley Frick
Other •
Carol Sullivan MacDonald was my best-ever high school and College Avenue Christian Church friend in the 1960s. We went to Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) activities and summer church camp together. She had a wry sense of humor that kept me grounded; I looked forward to talking to her every night on the phone after high school. Her love of worship, quilt making and worship brought joy and blessings to so many--a life well-lived for friends and family--Jane Bartley Frick
MZ
Margaret Fones Zimmerman
Other •
Carol was a close friend of mine when we were in high school together in Des Moines. She had a quiet strength and a positive outlook that included a quick wit that always made me laugh. I was constantly amazed by her ability to play the piano as accompanist for our choral groups; she could sight-read musical scores with incredible accuracy. As yearbook editor, I asked her to edit the pages dedicated to the school faculty and she did an excellent job, even though she'd never worked on a publication before. I remember one time when my parents were at a convention in Mexico City and the lady who was staying with me had to go home because of a family emergency. I asked Carol if I could stay with her for several days till my folks returned. She didn't hesitate to invite me over and we had a great time that week. She was a talented, intelligent and kind person and I counted myself fortunate to have her as a friend. May she rest in peace. Margaret Fones Zimmerman, Carmel, IN

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