Carolyn “Nell” Ward was born Feb. 16, 1945, in Harvard, Ill., to Mitchell and Nila (Dunbar) Terpstra. She passed away on Dec. 28, 2020, at her home in Zenda after a yearlong courageous battle with cancer.
Faith and family were the most important things to Nell, and her favorite Bible verse was 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which is all about love. Nell was an example of love to all who knew and met her. That great love was shown in her marriage to Robert Ward Sr. who was her husband for 57 years.
Nell grew her faith and love of others at St. Benedict Church where she began worshipping in 1971. At St. Benedict church Nell was a Catechism instructor for high school aged students, served meals at funerals and was a member of the bell choir. She worked at Melges Boat Works for 44 years and demonstrated her love for others by baking birthday treats for her coworkers. On each coworker’s birthday she would bake their treat of choice for the entire staff.
Nell’s two favorite hobbies were going to garage sales and completing puzzles of all types. Her passion for garage sales was motivated by the fact that she loved finding things that other people needed and staying active. As a dedicated employee, Nell also stayed active by working at Melges part-time until cancer wouldn’t allow her to work anymore.
She is survived by her husband, Robert James Ward, whom she married on Aug. 24, 1963, in Harvard: her children, Correna (Joe) Ksiazak and Robert (Cindy) Ward. Jr.; grandchildren, Emily and Kyle Ward; brother, Ronald Terpstra; sister, Darlene Swiech; sister-in-law, Patricia Klein; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Nell is preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Terpstra and John Terpstra; sister, Joyce (John) Bremser; sister-in-law, Nancy Terpstra; and brother-in-law, Carl Swiech.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was a private funeral mass celebrated at St. Benedict’s and burial at Walworth Cemetery. Those who would like to make a donation in honor of Nell are asked to donate to the St. Benedict Bell Choir in Fontana. There is a link on the bottom of the St. Benedict homepage where donations can be made.
