Carol Goddard

Carol Louise (Gunderson) Goddard   1939 to 2025   Carol Louise (Gunderson) Goddard of Loveland, CO, passed away on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, at the Meadowview of Greeley, CO. She was 85 years old.   Carol was born in Sterling, CO, on October 6th, 1939, to Walter Eugene Gunderson and Elizabeth Dorothy (Etzenhouser) Gunderson and was brought home to loving siblings, Mary, Margaret, Walt Jr., & David.   Eleven days after she was born the family moved to the Gunderson Ranch in Potter, NE. Carol’s youngest sibling Robert “Bob” was born 14 months later completing the family of eight.   Times were tough in the farmhouse with no running water or electricity and only a wood stove for heat & cooking. She was lovingly cared for by her sister Margaret who read, sang, and played with her while the rest of the siblings helped their parents as much as they could. The family moved to Fort Collins, CO, for one year where Carol was enrolled in first grade. Her father was a trained and certified Chiropractor and they moved to Longmont, CO, where he was able to open a practice of his own. The Gunderson family was very musical and often sang and performed together at community functions and at church. She met and began a friendship with her future husband Jerry while in second grade at the Community of Christ (RLDS Church) family church camp. Carol learned to play the piano, clarinet, & bassoon as well as develop a strong alto voice early in her life. Her love of music followed her throughout her lifetime. As early as she could she began babysitting for neighborhood families and found working with children to be her calling. She graduated from Longmont High School in 1956 and completed a two-year program at Graceland (College) University in Lamoni, Iowa. She attended Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Missouri, and continued her pursuit of a degree in elementary education with a minor in music at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. She graduated from UNC on Saturday, June 3rd, 1961, and then married Jerry Frank Goddard the next day on Sunday June 4, 1961, in Denver, CO. The newlyweds immediately moved to Yellowstone Park, WY, where Jerry served as a park ranger for the summer. That fall they moved back to Greeley where Carol was employed as a second-grade teacher at Pierce Elementary in Pierce, CO, while Jerry completed his education degree. Upon Jerry’s graduation in 1962, the couple moved back to Yellowstone for the summer to allow Jerry to continue his work with the park service.    The couple was blessed with a daughter, Caren Renee in August of 1962. When Caren Renee was 11 days old they moved to McCook, Nebraska, for Jerry to begin his employment as a business teacher at McCook High School. The couple moved back and forth to McCook and Yellowstone for five years while Jerry “moonlighted” to augment his teacher’s salary. During this time frame they were again blessed with the arrival of their son John Russell who was born in September of 1964 in McCook to complete the family.    In the fall of 1967, the Goddard’s settled in Loveland, where Jerry taught at Loveland High School and Carol continued to care for Caren & John and other children in the community. When Caren & John were firmly established in school, Carol began a 22-year span of teaching second-grade at B.F. Kitchen Elementary in Loveland. She was gratified in knowing that she taught 1,000’s of children how to read. Her former students periodically checked back with her for a hug for the rest of her life. She retired in 1996. Jerry completed his 38-year career in the education field at Aims College in Greeley, Loveland, & Fort Lupton and retired in 2000.   Throughout their marriage, Jerry and Carol were active travelers where they made and met the goals of visiting all 50 states in the U.S. by the time they turned 50 and traveling to all seven continents by the time they turned 70. Throughout their marriage as teachers, they were able to take summer vacations with their children while visiting extended family and serving as leaders at both youth and family church camps.   From 2000 to 2020 the couple resided in San Felipe, Mexico, during the cooler months of the year and in Loveland during the summer.   Carol was beloved by her family and all of the children she taught and met. She was invariably found reading, singing, and playing with children where they felt enriched, safe, and cared for while in her presence. She relished the chance to attend all of her children and grandchildren’s activities, games, & programs. She served in the Priesthood at her church, played the piano, organ, handbells, & sang in various ensembles from duets to full church choirs. She composed music, wrote short stories & meditations, was an excellent seamstress, and was always found with music, a book, counted cross-stitch or a knitting project in her hands. She delighted in following the Colorado Rockies baseball team as well as Nebraska Cornhusker & Denver Bronco football.   She and Jerry were members of the Larimer Chorale for several years traveling to Europe and various locations in the United States with the group.  Together they built a new house in Loveland & a cabin in Pingree Park where they enjoyed hosting and socializing with their family & friends in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.   Carol is survived by her daughter Caren Renee & son-in-law David Scott Haining of Greeley, son John Russell Goddard of Loveland/Johnstown, grandsons Joshua Russell Goddard of Greeley, David “Scott” Haining II of Denver, and granddaughters Nicole Raquel Goddard of Windsor, and Amy Renee Haining of Seattle as well as brother Bob Gunderson, & wife Gertrude (Mahi) of Hawaii, and Jerry’s sister and brother-in-law Jean & Jan Newman of Fort Collins. She also leaves behind 41 nephews & nieces as well as 73 great nephews & nieces who describe her as a kind, welcoming, & gentle soul.   She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Frank Goddard, her parents, and four siblings (and their spouses) Mary Cash (Don,) Margaret Shupe (David,) Walter Gunderson, Jr. (Ruthie,) and David Gunderson (Delores.)