Kjelshus, Dorothy Carol (Walker)

Dorothy Carol (Walker) Kjelshus passed away on Nov. 14, 2023 in her home in Greenwood, Mo at age of 99.

Carol was born August 8, 1924 to Wesley and Elizabeth Walker. She grew up in Iowa county, Dodgeville, Wisconsin. She graduated from high school in Dodgeville and attended Platteville State College in Plattevile, Wisconsin.  She joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps and then attended and graduated from the Kahler Hospital School of Nursing, Rochester, Minnesota in 1946.  She earned a bachelor of science in public health nursing from the University of Minnesota medical school.  Carol met Ben Kjelshus while at the University of Minnesota and then married in Dec. 1949. Carol worked as a county public health nurse in Cook County, Illinois and in Cuyahga County, Ohio.  She worked as a community mental health nurse at Western Missouri Mental Health Center in Kansas City, MO until retirement.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband Ben Kjelshus of 68 years, two sisters Joyce Kirschbaum (Pat) and Margaret Peat (Delmar).  She is survived by her three children Jon 

(Cheryle), Karen Hinkle, and Eric.  Her six grandchildren Letty (Hill), Jon Richard “JR”, Kristin (Pfizenmaier), Jennifer (Peters),  Amber (McBride), and Mikkel.  Her great-grandchildren Lauren, Brain, Emma, Abby, Sterling, Jett, River, Annie, Wyatt, Ebbe, Oslo, Lachlan, Brooks, Charlie, Teddy.

Carol enjoyed being a Mom and being married, she enjoyed seeing her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren grow.  Carol was an avid reader all her life and enjoyed getting a new supply of books and magazines to read when she was not able to get out as much.  She took pleasure in sewing and making lap quilts to donate and knitting caps and mittens.   She was a committed bee keeper for many years enjoying taking care of her “girls”.

A Celebration of Life has taken place Saturday December 23, 2023 at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City, MO.

A service of remembrance and interment of ashes will take place at 11am on Sat. July 27 at Nora Unitarian Universalist Church, Hanska, MN.  Lunch will be served afterwards.