Carol Ann Klosterbuer Zwaan passed away peacefully with the love of her life, Henry, faithfully by her side, on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, at the age of 77 years, 1 month and 22 days.
Visitation is at 2 p.m. and a funeral service at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne.
Carol was born on Nov. 26, 1943, in Luverne, Minnesota, to her parents, Mildred and Walter Klosterbuer. She was the only daughter and joined a family of two brothers, Jerry Dean and Duane Darrell and finally a third brother, Robert Lowell (Bob), was born to this family. All four children grew up on the home farm south of Ash Creek, Minnesota, and went to a one-room schoolhouse, District No. 1, close to the family farm.
Carol Ann married the only love of her life, Henry Dale Zwaan, on March 16, 1962, at the State Line Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. The reception was in Rock Rapids, Iowa. It was the winter of all winters with barely open roads, but still everyone came to their celebration. Carol was 18 years old and Henry was 20, having known each other for three years. Carol and Henry farmed and raised their children together, mostly on the farm seven miles south of Luverne. She helped as much as she could, helping Henry with chores, bringing lunches and doing some field work, driving truck and just running for whatever he needed in those earlier years.
Their family consists of Melanie (Doug) Mensing, Monti (Staci) Zwaan, Mandel (Laura) Zwaan, and Michelle (Scott) Mark. She was given 11 grandchildren, Zachary, MacKenzi (TJ), Chazni, Megan (Blake), Merecie, Mitchell, Emary, Zoey, Syndal, Jaxon and Lilian. She was also given three great-grandchildren, Dalton, Leanna and Lennon. Her family was, by far, her greatest joy.
Carol got her elementary education degree in 1988, graduating from Augustana College, magna cum laude. She then taught for a short time at Sioux Falls Christian in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She decided to go back to school during the lean years of farming.
Unfortunately, it was finally when she had her hip surgery and two heart attacks that she had to slow down a lot. Before those years she was very active riding horses, flower gardening, antiques, her music, and more recently reading, writing and spending time with friends in Arizona. She sang and played guitar for many weddings, funerals and many musical occasions, sometimes just playing around the bonfire. She especially liked country music and harmony. Throughout her life she sang with four different groups. She also organized the Tri-State Town & Country Garden Club and the Friends of Antiques Club. They were such a joy to her also.
Henry and Carol attended State Line Presbyterian Church for 15 years, ARC in Luverne for 25 years, then attending and helping at New Life Celebration Church in Luverne and Heart Cry Church in Arizona. Carol was involved in serving in many ways in State Line Presbyterian and ARC in Luverne.
She has written 11 children’s books – one for each of her grandchildren – and one western devotional booklet appropriate for all. The children’s series is titled “The Cousins.” She has also written one patriotic gospel song.
Henry and Carol were in the process of making bittersweet plans to move off the farm and into Luverne in 2021. However, unfortunately those plans were not meant to be. Carol always liked feathering their nest, and Henry always faced those challenges with grit and determination! What a gentleman he was and still is!
Carol’s greatest personal belief was her faith in the Lord. Her greatest personal time and her devotions, studying the Word, talking to her Lord, giving thanks and praying for all her family and friends. She also picked a favorite promise every day to remember God’s mercy. All her prayer books were her own personal accounting. The Lord heard all her prayers. He helped her solve many of her problems and was with her through many difficult times. She is hoping that these words would share their time with the Lord as well. It is priceless!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mildred Klosterbuer, brother Jerry Klosterbuer, and grandson Zachary Zwaan.
In the sweet bye and bye,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
In the sweet bye and bye,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
(0128 V)