Carol was born Dec. 13, 1936, and went home to be with our Lord June 12, 2017.
Carol was born in Chicago to parents James and Hester (Strickland) Finnegan. Carol was the sixth of eight children in the Finnegan clan. She was raised in Chicago and graduated from Austin High School with the class of 1956. In 1960, she married Ernest Karcher. They lived in Beloit and then Delavan raising their five children, John, Julie, Jean, Jeff and Jason. Carol worked at Lakeland Hospital and Lakeland Nursing Home in Elkhorn as housekeeping supervisor until her retirement in 1997. Although Carol and Ernie divorced, she never gave up on love and was able to find it again with William “Bill” Zabel. They were married in 1995 and resided in Delavan and then Surprise, Ariz., until Bill’s passing in 1998. Carol moved back to the Midwest and lived between Wisconsin and Iowa, always wanting to be close to one of her kids. Carol enjoyed family time and adored her grandchildren, one of her greatest blessings. She then added to her counted blessings, her great-grandchildren. She would drop anything, anytime, for any one of them in need.
Those left to treasure her love and her life here on earth are her sister, Lois Kahn, Chicago, and as she called her children – her five Js, John and his wife, Karyn Karcher, of Elkhorn, Julie and her husband, Steve Anhorn, of Osage, Iowa, Jean and her husband, Richard Jedlicka, of Appleton, Jeff and his wife, Laura Karcher, of Madison, and Jason Karcher, of Madison. She also leaves great love and memories with her grandchildren, Jennifer Karcher and Ethan Karcher, of Breckenridge, Colo.; Paul Hanna, of Osage, Iowa, and Margo Young, with husband, Philip, and son, Finnegan Michael, also of Osage, Iowa; Jeremy Jedlicka, with wife, Valerie, and their children Summer, Elias Jaymes and Shiloh Ann, of Brandon, Iowa, Lisa Frahm, with husband, Corey, and son, Edwin Corey, of Black Creek, and Emma King, with husband, Patrick, and children, Lynzi Jean, Colton Edward and Claire Maxine, of Kimberly; Ana Karcher and Rachel Karcher, of Stevens Point; Kacy Jo Karcher, of DeForest; two dear sisters-in-law, Marge Finnegan of Chicago, and Angie Finnegan, of Round Lake Beach, Ill. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews, all so dear to her heart.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, James and Hester Finnegan; her husband, Bill Zabel; and siblings Hester, James, John “Jackie,” Patricia, Thomas and Robert Finnegan.
A celebration of her will be July 17 at The Inspiration Center, N2270 Highway 67, Walworth. Family will greet at 10 a.m with the celebration of life beginning at 11 a.m. Monroe Funeral Home, Delavan, is handling the arrangements.
Carol’s family wishes to extend the warmest thank you to the staff at Matthew’s House of Neenah and especially to “her Melisa,” who always went above and beyond and loved Carol as her own mom. The loving care and friendship she received brought sunshine to Carol every single day. The family’s thanks are extended to Heartland Hospice of Green Bay for their wonderful care and the unending support they gave Carol and extended to the family. Together the staff all made Carol’s last days beautiful and peaceful.
Memorials may be sent to the family and will be directed to assist with Alzheimer’s research and care.
