LEAR, Carol Webster 1951-2011

LEAR, WEBSTER, CHOLLAR

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 8/8/2011 at 12:54:00

Carol Webster Chollar Lear was born Sept. 10, 1951, in Boise, Idaho, to Samuel and Mary (Stanbrough) Chollar. She passed away unexpectedly at her home in Northfield on Monday morning, April 18, 2011, at the age of 59.

The daughter of a YMCA executive and then pastor, she moved with her family to many different parts of the country, including California, Colorado and Iowa. In 1969 she graduated from Waterloo West High School, after which she attended the University of Northern Iowa. She worked as a nanny in White Bear Lake, Minn., and later in Iowa City as a staff member and house parent for developmentally challenged children. She married Karl Lear on May 31, 1975, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Waterloo, after which they lived primarily in Iowa City. Carol worked starting a community based program serving the chronically mentally ill in Iowa City and later in Des Moines. She also worked as the coordinator for volunteers for multiple agencies in Johnson County. Carol and her family have made Northfield, Minn., home since 1998.

Carol enjoyed weaving, scrapping and camping, but most of all, she deeply cherished her family. She was outgoing, passionate and very empathetic. She had a unique gift for identifying the best in people. Her ability to turn this personal strength into her vocation can be found in the way she advocated for and touched the lives of countless numbers of less fortunate individuals throughout her career. Professionally, she worked tirelessly on behalf of the mentally and developmentally challenged and in her personal life she could always find a way to make even a stranger feel valued and welcome.

Survivors include her husband, Karl; two daughters, Johannah and Taelor; her mother, Mary Chollar of Rochester, Minn.; three brothers, Stephen Chollar of St. Paul, Minn., Christopher Chollar of Arizona and Andrew (Elizabeth) Chollar of Minnetonka, Minn,; her nephew and nieces, Sam, Sarah and Carrie; and many dear relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Larkin Chollar.

A semi-private reception celebrating her life will be held at Charter House in Rochester on Tuesday, May 10.

Memorials are preferred to the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home, Northfield.

[Benson & Langehough Funeral Home, submitted by Andy Langehough]