Carlene Edwards, 69

Funeral services for Carlene E. Edwards were held today, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 at the Tracy Lutheran Church.

Carlene Elizabeth Edwards was born October 7, 1939 to Carl and Irene (Broers) Pagel at the hospital in Tracy, MN.  She was baptized at the family home in Vesta, MN and confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vesta.  She attended and graduated from Milroy Public Schools in 1957.  As a youth, she lived in the Vesta and Underwood Townships and was very active in the Underwood Merryworkers 4-H club and a past president.  She also worked as a secretary for an attorney in Marshall, MN for a short period of time before accepting a position as bookkeeper for the Milroy Elevator.

On October 30, 1965 Carlene married Darold Edwards at the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vesta.  They made their home in the Gales Township, Redwood County for a short period before moving to a farm just north of Tracy, MN, in the Monroe Township, Lyon County in 1970.  She continued to work for the Milroy Elevator a few more years before taking a position at the Tracy Schools as a Teachers Assistant for Special Education children. 

Carlene was very active over the years in her church and community.  Upon moving to the Tracy area, she joined the Tracy Lutheran Church and was a Sunday school teacher for many years.  She also was involved with the Church Circle Women, prayer chain leader, Quilting, an officer of the TLCW, church food coordinator, Thrivent Financial officer and many other organizations and committees over the years. Carlene was an adult leader for the Tracy Comets 4-H club and really enjoyed helping her grandchildren with 4-H projects.  She enjoyed gardening flowers and vegetables, houseplants, sewing, square dancing, fishing with her kids, playing cards with her card club and spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends.

On Saturday, February 7, 2009 Carlene passed away surrounded by her loving family at the Prairie Home Hospice in Marshall, MN at the age of 69.

Carlene is survived by her husband Darold of Tracy, MN; two sons, Douglas Edwards of Tracy, MN and John (Kris) Edwards of Tracy, MN; three grandchildren, Trenton, Tyler and Cassidy; two brothers, Robert Pagel of Vesta, MN and Richard (Nancy) Pagel of Vesta, MN; one sister, Lois Pagel of Vesta, MN; mother-in-law, Bernice Edwards; brother and sister-in-laws, Bonnie and Larry Buysse and Marlys and Gordy Edwards all of Tracy, MN; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. 

Her parents, father-in-law, Harold Edwards, and step mother, Donna Pagel preceded her in death.

Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery.  Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com.  The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.