Carol Ann Holmes

Carol Ann (Spenner) Holmes, 95, of Wakefield, Nebraska, died on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at the Wakefield Health Care Center. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield. The funeral service will be on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Wakefield, Nebraska. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.

Carol was born on April 25, 1929, in Wakefield, NE to Ignatz and Elsie (Crowe) Spenner. In 1948, Carol graduated from Wakefield High School. On March 27, 1955, Carol married Melvin Holmes at the United Presbyterian Church in Wakefield. Born to this union were the “3 naughty daughters”, Debbie Nowak, Donna Westerhaus, and Lori Mischke. Melvin and Carol were married 40 years before Melvin’s passing in April, 1995.

Carol helped Melvin on the farm and raised their daughters. She began working for the MG Waldbaum/Michael Foods company at the farm operation, and also the main plant in Wakefield in 1979. She and Melvin traveled to Albuquerque for the Christmas holidays to spend time with Donna and her family. Debbie also took her parents on several trips to California, Colorado, and North Carolina. Carol had many hobbies, crocheting numerous afghans for her family, reading and she loved walking daily, recording 10,000 steps per day, until the last few years. She was also active in her church, being a council member and baking many cinnamon rolls from scratch for the Memorial Day breakfasts, and serving communion at the Wakefield Care Center. In 2016, Carol spent six months in Fargo, ND taking care of Debbie before she succumbed to cancer in 2017. Her granddaughter, Stephanie Westerhaus passed away in 2018.

Carol is survived by daughters, Donna (Duane) Westerhaus of Plainview, NE, Lori (Gary Stone) Mischke of Ponca, NE; grandchildren, Andrea Larson of Norfolk, NE, Aaron (Katie) Westerhaus of Norfolk, NE, Amanda Mischke of LaVista, NE, and Susan Westerhaus of Norfolk, NE. She was blessed with great-grandson, Justin (Sarah) Larson, and great-great-granddaughters, Addison Larson(5) and Harper Larson(3) of Norfolk, NE. She is also survived by a son-in-law, Henry Nowak; a special friend, Barry Mischke, and Georgia daughter, Diane McAuliffe of Darien, GA.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Ignatz and Elsie Spenner; brother, Bill Spenner; husband, Melvin Holmes; daughter, Debbie Nowak; and granddaughter, Stephanie Westerhaus.