Carol Joann (Strom) CMELIK

CMELIK, SMITH, STROM, NICHOLS, PATERA, WESTMEYER, WOODS, DOUGHERTY, SCHAEFFER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/1/2009 at 08:45:16

November 14, 1929 - October 31, 2005

Carol J. Cmelik, age 75 of Mapleton, Iowa, died Monday, October 31, 2005 in Sioux City, Iowa. Memorial services were held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 3 at St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton with Pastor Fred Pilecki officiating. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mapleton. Music for the service was "One More Day"-Diamond Rio, "Angels Among Us"-Randy Travis, "Keep Me In Your Heart"-Warren Zevon and "The Dance"-Garth Brooks.

Carol Joann Cmelik was born November 14, 1929, at Clarion, Iowa the daughter of Ivan and Irene (Smith) Strom. As a young child she moved with her family to Waverly, Iowa where she grew up and went to school. On December 31, 1946, Carol was united in marriage to Ray Cmelik in Charles City, Iowa. To this union, six children were born, Larry, Dennis, Becky, Doug, Kevin, and Kay. In 1959 they moved to Mapleton, Iowa where Ray and Carol raised their family. Carol worked many jobs in her lifetime such as a waitress, cook, and bartender. In these professions Carol was able to touch many people's lives. She was a good listener, communicator and truly kind person. She was appreciated most for her ability to accept people for who they were without prejudices. She was a loyal friend to anyone who had the opportunity to know her. She would always put other people's needs before herself. She loved to crochet, make cabbage patch dolls, dance, bake and spend time with friends and family. Her greatest joy was found in raising her family of six children. She was extremely proud of their accomplishments. She also was proud of her two grandchildren and was considered more than a grandmother by them--she was a second mother and true friend. She will be missed by the many people who's lives that she touched. Carol was a true diamond in the rough and we were all fortunate to have known her.

She is survived by Ray, her husband of 59 years; son, Dennis Cmelik of Hartley, Iowa; daughter, Becky Nichols and her husband, Rick, of Mapleton, Iowa; son, Doug Cmelik of Lincoln, Nebraska; son, Kevin Cmelik of Davenport, Iowa; and daughter, Kay Cmelik of Hartley, Iowa; grandchildren, Joshua Nichols of Sioux City, Iowa and Ali Nichols Patera and her husband, Grant, of Ida Grove, Iowa; her brother, Donald Strom of Shell Rock, Iowa; and her sister, Lola Strom Westmeyer and her husband, Donald of Janesville, Iowa along with many nieces, nephews, and good friends. Carol was preceded in death by one son, Larry; her mother and father; three sisters, Mildred Woods, Katherine Dougherty, and Ellen Schaeffer; three brothers, Roger Strom, Duane Strom, and Robert Strom.

There truly was only one Carol and she did it "her way." Arrangements were made under the direction of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton.