Carol Kathleen Cowley

MOUNT HOREB - Carol Kathleen (Schlough) Cowley, age 82, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was the youngest child of Algie and Katherine (Schultz) Schlough.  

Carol was born on January 11, 1943, and grew up on the Schlough family farm in Arena Township. Her childhood was spent living with her family in their beautiful family farmhouse where she learned to cook, how to work hard and where her deep Catholic faith was formed. Some of her best childhood memories were helping her mother cook and being around the supper table with her family, along with enjoying the smell of homemade bread baked by her mother.

She enjoyed school but didn’t enjoy the walk to Mounds Creek Grade School from her home, especially on cold wintery days. Carol was confirmed by the Diocese of Madison in May of 1956 after completing her course work and fulfilling her requirements. She attended Arena High School and graduated in 1960. During high school she attended dances, county fairs, and rollerskated at Lilac Gardens. She also began working for her father at A.B. Schlough Plumbing in Madison. During her senior year of high school, Carol was named Homecoming Queen.

Carol married Duane Cowley on October 28, 1961, at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Mazomanie. They lived in the Black Earth area all of their married life and raised five children. She began doing the books when Duane started his own masonry business and continued to do so while also helping to create another business using her mind and incredible work ethic, Valley View Stone Company. Carol would later start another career working at American Girl in Middleton. She became a supervisor there but one of her favorite things about working there was purchasing dolls for her loved ones.   

Family was always most important to Carol. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Carol was there for all of her children in good times and in bad and her love never wavered. She loved each of them for their strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between and they all loved her right back. She had a great sense of humor and enjoyed having fun making people laugh.  She was dedicated and devoted to her entire family.  

Mom was an amazing cook whose attention to detail in the kitchen was incredible. She would make special dishes for people she knew even if it was extra work for her and not what she planned just to see them smile and enjoy what she had created for them with love. She enjoyed sewing and watching baseball games. She was a huge Green Bay Packers fan but liked them more when Brett Favre was the quarterback and not the other guy.  

Carol was a compassionate person who was always there to listen and help give direction to her children as well as many others through her life. Her kindness, perspective, and understanding helped so many people during challenging times. She was affectionately referred to as Mamma C by many who were not her children because of her warm and caring disposition. Carol was also a determined, feisty, no nonsense woman who displayed an inner strength that was truly remarkable. Her courageous battle with multiple forms of cancer are a true testament to her tenacity and determination. She is a hero to all of her children as well as many others who were fortunate enough to have met her.  

Carol is survived by her five children, Anthony Cowley, Linda O’Connell, Lisa (Oscar) Wendt, Diane Voss and Andrew Cowley; eight grandchildren, Brandon (Emily) O’Connell, Amber (Robert) Alvarado, Ryan O’Connell, Catrina (Josh) Wahl, Heather (John) Loger, Benjamin Voss, Brooke (Thomas) Schneider and Bryanna (Keegan) Bomkamp; and 13 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Mary (Jerry) Gust; and many adoring nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Benjamin, Richard, David, Betty Ann and Margaret; and extended family, Patricia Schlough, Douglas Brown and Donald Cushman.

Carol was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church.  She was at home and at peace when she attended Mass. She prayed and looked to God for guidance and strength throughout her life and helped instill a strong faith with her children. We will all deeply miss her courageous, loving spirit.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 109 S. Sixth St., Mount Horeb, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, with Father Brian Dulli presiding. Burial will take place at St. Barnabas Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday.

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

Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb

Funeral & Cremation Care

500 N. Eighth St.

(608) 437-5077