Carolyn Jean Schenck, age 70, of Crookston, MN, passed away with her loving family by her side on Friday, December 11, 2020, at Altru Hospital after a courageous 6-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Carolyn Jean Hoppe was born on March 7, 1950, in Crookston, MN, the daughter of Raymond and Jean (Johnson) Hoppe. She was raised on the family farm near Crookston where she learned baking, sewing, and gardening from her mother. She graduated from Central High School in 1968. She attended Moorhead State College where she met the love of her life, Wayne Schenck. The couple was united in marriage on June 20, 1970, in Crookston, MN. They made their home in Redwood Falls, MN. While there, Carolyn finished her degree at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, earning a degree in education. She then taught elementary school in Danube and Olivia, MN, before starting their family. In 1978 they moved to Crookston. She taught at Our Savior’s Lutheran School and then Highland Elementary, retiring in 2010. She was also instrumental in Wayne’s construction career. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening, baking, cooking, sewing, and music. She loved playing the piano and had a beautiful singing voice. She sang in the choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was involved in many other church activities. She spent many summer days at the lake enjoying time with her family.
Carolyn absolutely adored her two grandchildren, Ryker and Reyah. She would play anything, anytime, anywhere with them. She left this world exactly 46 years to the day after first bringing life into this world. She will be dearly missed.
Carolyn is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Wayne; son, Aaron Schenck of Maple Grove, MN; daughters, Andrea Powell of St. Paul, MN, and Natalie (Blake) Royal of Crookston, MN; grandchildren, Ryker and Reyah Royal of Crookston, MN; brothers, Curtis (Norma) Hoppe of Crookston, MN, Loren (Blas) Hoppe of Spain, and David (Ida) Hoppe of Crookston, MN; and sister, Linda (Jim) Erickson of Bemidji, MN; as well many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Jean Hoppe, and her father and mother-in-law, Milo and Gloria Schenck.
Donations in Carolyn’s name may be sent to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Music Fund or to Our Savior’s Lutheran School.
Funeral Service for Carolyn will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN, with a time of visitation one hour before. Pastor Jeff Brown will officiate. Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Crookston, MN. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic attendance at the funeral will be limited to 75 people and masks and social distancing will be required. The funeral will be live-streamed on Carolyn’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com.
Online Guestbook: www.stenshoelhouske.com
Arrangements entrusted to Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home of Crookston, MN.
