Carol Ruth Hakala, age 90 of Clintonville, formerly of the Town of Dupont, Waupaca County, passed away on Sunday July 31, 2022 at the ThedaCare Medical Center in Shawano.

Carol was born August 13, 1931 in Bonduel as the daughter of the late George and Sophia (Backhaus) Kreutzer. She and her twin sister Clarice were raised in Bonduel by their grandmother Mary Backhaus and aunt Ella Backhaus after their mother passed away from complications during child-birth. Carol graduated from Bonduel High School in 1949. She worked as a secretary for doctors’ offices, U.W. Green Bay, and the U.S. Forestry Service in Colorado. Carol met her husband Walter Hakala at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Green Bay and they enjoyed competitive dancing together. They were married October 18, 1958 and resided in the Green Bay area, then Pagosa Springs, CO, and Kerrville, TX. After the death of her husband, Carol moved back to Wisconsin and lived with Clarice in Marion until Clarice’s passing in 2019. Carol was a current member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marion. She spent the last few years being well cared for at Kindred Hearts in Clintonville. Carol enjoyed playing piano & organ for the churches she attended and was an expert knitter and avid reader. She enjoyed her family and friends; always willing to play games and be involved in activities. Loved by her family, she will be missed and remembered for her strong faith in Jesus our Lord.

Carol is survived by
Her brothers Donald (Betty) Kreutzer, Greely, CO and Lloyd Kreutzer, Brighton, CO.
Brother-in-law: Bruce Rasmussen, Winthrop Harbor, IL
Also numerous Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Walter; grandmother Mary & aunt Ella; sisters Idella Rasmussen, Mary Ann (Bill) Alvey, and Clarice (Earl) Hintz; mother-in-law and father-in-law Johanna (Juoni) and Henry Hakala; sisters-in-law Jenny (Hakala) Plosila Sturkol, Fanny (Hakala) Seppala, Impi (Hakala) Stenman, Helia (Hakala) Backman, Mildred (Hakala) Warren, and Femmie (Hakala) Utto; and brothers-in-law: William, Henry, John, and Ralph Hakala.

Carol’s memorial service will be held Friday August 5, 2022 at 2pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marion with Rev. Lois Graper officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Mellen Union Cemetery in Mellen, WI. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 1pm until the time of the service.

Carol’s family wishes to express their appreciation for the love, care, and respect shown to their aunt by the staff of Kindred Hearts of Clintonville and the whole staff of ThedaCare Medical Center in Shawano. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home and Crematory of Marion is assisting her family. www.eberhardtstevenson.com