Carolyn Anne Smela

Carolyn was born to parents Edwin and Erna Dusin on the family farm in Phillips County, Kansas on March 7, 1943.  She was baptized at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stuttgart, Kansas and later confirmed her faith in the same church. 

Throughout her childhood, Carolyn lived on the family farm with her parents and brother (Karl) doing chores and playing with the farm cats, her favorite animals. They lived a simple life, living off the land and keeping the Lord at the center of all they did. She attended the local schoolhouse in which her mother taught and was located on the family farm. Carolyn graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1961 and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska in 1965 with a degree in Education. 

After graduation, Carolyn found work teaching in Junction City, Kansas just outside of the Army’s Fort Riley. It was here that she met an Army service member and her future husband, Walter, whom she married in 1968.  Walt was deployed to South Korea in 1968 and Carolyn would move to Loveland, Colorado to continue her teaching career. She taught at both Garfield and Van Buren Elementary schools. In 1971 she stepped away from teaching to begin her family with Walt. 

Carolyn was a homemaker that loved taking care of her family. Her first son, Brian, was born in 1971 and Jonathan in 1975. She was always there to help the boys with school, summer activities, church functions and she supported them at nearly every sporting event her two boys played. Carolyn enjoyed gardening, growing vegetables, and flowers in the yard.  She ran a sewing business out of the basement of her home that included alterations, Barbie and Cabbage Patch clothes, and even wedding dresses.  Being a very social person, Carolyn enjoyed working at the local Runza Restaurant for over 20 years, building countless lifelong relationships. She and Walt were married for 51 years before his passing in 2019. 

Carolyn was a dedicated member of Zion Lutheran Church of Loveland for 55+ years. She participated in the choir, taught Sunday school, began and administered the church library, read scriptures for services, and loved her church family. She was also a member of various Bible study groups over the years. 

Preceded in death by her parents Edwin & Erna Dusin, her husband Walt, and brothers in law Gerald and Sidney.  Carolyn is survived by her brother Karl (Lauren) Dusin of Auburn, Indiana and sister-in-law Lee Smela of Michigan. She is also survived by two sons, Brian (Jennifer) of Fort Collins and Jon (Adrienne) of Loveland, four grandchildren Katherine, Curtis, Nicholas and Levi, and nieces and nephew, Brianne (Wes) Simoneau, Stephanie (Dan) Hubbarth-Bergen, Victoria Smith, Bobby Smela, Wendy Marcus, Christina (Eric) Linterman, Andrea Smela.  Carolyn had many beloved friends in the Loveland area. 

Funeral Services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Loveland on February 6 at 11am with internment and a luncheon following. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Zion Lutheran Church.