Carol Joyce Gruetjen Schulz passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her 4 children, on May 23, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was 93years old.

Carol was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 11, 1931, to Frederick and Erna Gruetjen. She grew up there with her family (including her older brother, Art) as well as the family living a short time in Germany and also in Pasadena, California. She graduated from Wauwatosa High School with many fond memories and would still often sing the school fight song and enjoy other fun antics with her sisters-in-law, Carolyn Schulz Haumersen and Maureen M. Schulz, at all our family gatherings until their passing.

Some fun facts that mom would never tell you, but that we children love to talk about… As a young child Carol was a playmate of Shirley Temple while living in California. Carol was a tomboy, a fierce competitor and excellent athlete in many sports all throughout her life. In later years as a mom of grown children, she was known to tackle her strapping sons in family hockey and football games! During her years as a student at the University of Wisconsin, she was voted a “Badger Beauty” and was crowned by Bing Crosby!

Carol graduated with honors, earning a degree in Home Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was married to Rockwell I Schulz and they soon moved to Minneapolis where she worked at Betty Crocker in the test kitchen, creating recipes (see the mid-1950’s cookbooks!) and was also their model with her picture in the Betty Crocker cookbooks and in magazines such as Better Homes and Garden. Carol was an exceptional homemaker, cook & baker, a gifted artist and decorator, and even had her own floral business for several years in Madison, Wisconsin. Whatever she put her hand to became a beautiful treasure to enjoy!

During the early years of raising young children the family moved often due to Rock’s career endeavors (living in 7 different states). Carol was the foundation to help everyone adjust to yet another new location with new friends to make, and all the details required to adapt. She was always up for a  new adventure! At one point Carol was successfully raising her young children in a one room log cabin-like motel in Carson City, Nevada, with just enough room for baby Kerry to sleep in one of the dresser drawers! Carol was never known to complain, but instead made it fun for all.

Carol was a fiercely engaging mother who was involved in our schools, church, community, and sporting events. We were only allowed to watch 1hour of tv a week, and we ate dinner together each night by candlelight. When one of us complained that candles should only be for those times of having special company over, she would reply, “Who is more special than our family?!” Carol was known for being a great woman of hospitality. She made our home a shelter to our extended family, school friends, international students, and more. She was a mom (and later a grandmother) to many people outside of our family all over the world - always there to listen, support and care!

Carol was an advocate for others all of her life. She was very involved in organizations such as Laubach Literacy (teaching adults to read), Meals on Wheels, teaching children in an inner city school in Dallas, and was part of an organization at the University of Wisconsin, fighting racism and helping with healing for those who dealt with its terrible effects, long before it was popular to do so. She also visited those in prison, volunteered at our schools, church, Young Life, as well as volunteering with countless other organizations.

Carol was that unselfish person who never talked about herself, but always wanted to know about the other person. She had those winsome qualities - that fun, playful, wise and compassionate combination that was a magnet for people. She had a unique sensitivity to see those who were uncomfortable or unnoticed, and sought them out to make them feel important and cared about. Whether shopping, traveling, serving here or overseas, any place that people would be, someone would meet Carol, and within a few minutes would be telling her their life story. She was a great listener and encourager, and would follow up with praying for that person, often getting their phone number to continue the relationship.

Carol, who never wanted any fanfare, will be best remembered for impacting so many lives around the world as a beautiful example of living a life committed to her first love, Jesus. She had a strong calling on her life from God. Even at age five, she was invited to church by a teacher from her school. After that first visit to church, Carol walked alone some miles each Sunday to learn more about Jesus. Carol was an amazingly courageous and strong woman who championed her children, her family, and people of all nations and walks of life. She always had such a heart for the hurting and downtrodden. Once her children were grown, she began ministering to people overseas in such places as Belize, Jamaica and China. One night while watching the news about the atrocities in Romania, Carol’s heart was broken and she felt God’s call to serve the people there. She began by smuggling Bibles, and then eventually packed up and moved there, serving 25 years as a missionary in Romania. She literally went into the villages, streets and sewers, tending to the gypsies, muslims, refugees, addicts and homeless, the marginalized, and the abandoned babies and orphans. Carol, a woman of action, went out to humbly and lovingly serve those who are often overlooked by society. She lived very simply in a one-room apartment in Romania until coming back to the United States at the age of 85.

Carol will always be remembered as a faithful and passionate follower of Jesus Christ! She was a devoted prayer warrior who also fought for people’s lives on her knees, waking up at 4 am each day to read the Bible and pray for people all over the world. She was a woman who fervently served the Lord and people at home and abroad. Her heart’s desire was for everyone to come to personally understand the love God has for them, to know that He sent His Son to die on the cross for their sins, and for them accept His free gift of salvation - it is yours to have, if you only ask!

Carol is survived by her children, Rockwell A. Schulz (Lisa), Michael T. Schulz, Kerry Schulz Iskikian (John), David T. Schulz; her grandchildren, Christiana Iskikian Whallon (Daniel), Rocky Schulz, Spencer Iskikian; her great-grandchildren, Ezekiel, Jaylee (who preceded her to heaven), and IsaiahWhallon; her brother-in-law, Thomas J. Schulz; her nephews and nieces (and their families), Scott Haumersen, Holly Keller, Amy Smith, Tom Schulz, Amy Memory, and Cheryl Gruetjen Schultz. 

There will be a private family service for Carol in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 10, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Times Square Church in New York City, or Voice of the Martyrs.