Obituary: Carole Rundell

Carole Mae (Johnson) Rundell passed away at home surrounded by her family after suffering a stroke on Nov. 21, 2023. She was born in Chaffey, Wisc., on July 11, 1934, the daughter of Jalmer Johnson and Carrie Smith. Her family owned a country store where she and her brothers, Erwin and Dale, would play as children. She attended at Patzau School until the eighth grade. To finish her education, Carole moved to Superior, Wisc., where she traded cleaning and nannying for her room and board. She graduated from Superior Central High in 1952.

Carole met her future husband, Robert Rundell, and they were married July 1, 1955. A year later they welcomed their daughter, Jacqueline (Jackie) Rundell and then a son, Jerry Rundell in 1958. The couple made their home in Iowa City, Iowa, before moving to The Dalles, Ore., in 1956. Carole’s primary occupation was homemaker; however, over the years she had many side jobs where she earned her “mad money” that she liked to spend at garage sales and thrift stores. She loved to write letters and had many pen pals over the years. She stayed fit into her retirement years and made many friends walking at the Wahtonka and Thompson tracks. She also kept a journal for most of her life, where she not only made a record of her life but also documented the accomplishments of her family members.