Carol Jean Rudser

Carol Jean (née Klankowski) Rudser, 83, of Viroqua, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2025, at Bethel Oaks Memory Care Home.

She was born on September 7, 1941, in Caledonia, Minnesota to Paul and Mildred (Heintz) Klankowski.

Carol was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Caledonia, MN.

Carol received her early education at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran School in Caledonia, MN, and graduated from Caledonia High School with the class of 1959. She went on to earn her degree in elementary education and Spanish from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After college, she began working at Sears & Roebuck in La Crosse, WI.

On December 30, 1972, she was united in holy matrimony with Marion Rudser at St. John’s in Caledonia. The newlyweds made their home in Janesville, WI, where Carol worked for Parker Pen Company and the couple also farmed. Carol enjoyed gardening, handcrafts such as quilting and crocheting, as well as antiquing. Following Marion's retirement from Janesville Auto Transport Company, they relocated to the Viroqua area, where Carol found her calling working at the McIntosh Library in Viroqua. Her love of reading made her time at the library particularly meaningful. Carol and Marion were married nearly fifty years when he passed June 21, 2022.

Carol and Marion shared a passion for travel, exploring Norway, Alaska, and various parts of the United States together, and also spent several years wintering in Arizona. Carol also cherished memories of a special European trip taken with her cousin and friends. Throughout her life, Carol's strong faith served as her compass, guiding her through life's challenges.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion; her parents, Paul and Mildred (Heintz) Klankowski; her grandparents, Olga and George Heintz and Theresa and Richard Klankowski; her parents-in-law, Melvin and Kaia Rudser; brothers-in-law, Sigurd Rudser and Selmer (Clarice) Rudser; and sisters-in-law, Olene (Gerald) Ristow and Arvella (Alvin) Hauge.

Carol is survived by sister-in-law, Sonja (Lloyd) Olson; sister-in-law, Marilyn Rudser; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Viroqua. A visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Carol’s burial will follow at the church cemetery.

The family would like to thank Bethel Oaks and St. Croix Hospice for the care they provided.

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home & Crematory in Viroqua is serving Carol's family.

123 W. Decker Street

Viroqua, WI 54665

(608) 637-2100