Carol J. Zarns, 75-year-old resident of Swanville, MN passed away Saturday, December 28, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at the St. Cloud Hospital. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville with Rev. Tim Schmeisser officiating. Burial will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN at a later date. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Friday and one hour prior to the service on Saturday all at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville. Caring for Carol and her family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN.
Carol Jean Sawdy was born September 4, 1949, to the late Carroll and Marion (Shafer) Sawdy. She was raised in rural Swanville, MN by her Grandmother, Elfrieda Lundgren and Step-Grandfather Peter (Ed) Lundgren. She attended Swanville High School, graduating in 1967. Carol was the only child of Carroll and Marion, but had 12 half-siblings from the Milwaukee, WI area. Carol met the love of her life, Donald (Donnie) Zarns, on the school bus in elementary school; Donnie said Carol was the prettiest girl he had ever seen when she stepped on the school bus in kindergarten – her beauty hasn’t faded since. They wed on a cold December 28, 1968 – 56 years to the day of her passing. Donnie’s Navy obligations took them to Norfolk, Virginia and they ultimately settled in rural Swanville, MN, where they raised their five sons. Carol worked at Munsingwear as a sewer, St. Otto’s as a caregiver, Larson Boats in lamination, St. Camilla’s as a caregiver, with the Notermann family as a private nanny, and as a homemaker. Carol loved her family immensely and never missed an opportunity to see them. Time spent with her grandchildren was by far her favorite; ‘Nana’ was the proudest title she carried. The presence of any child brought a smile to her face, and they seemed to love her just as much. She also enjoyed gardening, camping, boat rides, morning coffee, 4-wheeling, reading, talking on the phone, dressing up for Halloween, baking, and really anything that involved her family. Carol looked forward to social events and frequent trips to Mexico with her girlfriends.
Carol is survived by her devoted husband, Donald (Donnie); sons, Troy (Jill) of Swanville, Chad (Sherry Donahue) of Little Falls, Shane (Michelle Skroch) of Randall, Josh (Sara) of Randall, and Travis (Kelsey Stavish) of Randall; grandchildren, Mitchell (Tori) Zarns, Autumn Zarns, Lilyana Zarns, Hadley Zarns and Baby Boy due in March; great-grandson, Everett Zarns; and sisters-in-law, Yvonne VanBockel, Diane (Bill) Meservey, Zita Zarns, and Bonita Zarns
She was preceded in death by her biological parents, Carroll and Marion; her “Mom” and “Daddy” Alfreida and Peter Lundgren; parents-in-law, Faye and Frederick Zarns; and her brothers-in-law, Dick Zarns, Jim Zarns, and Melvin VanBockel.
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