Carol M. (Hofrenning) Anderson of Newburgh, IN, passed away on January 20, 2025, under the gentle care of the Evansville Protestant Home and Heart to Heart Hospice staff, her husband of 57 years Tom, and her children. She joins her parents, brother, Phillip, nephews, Aaron and Carl, and niece, Anna in eternal paradise.
Carol was born in Minneapolis, MN, on February 27, 1947, to the late Irene (Lockrem) Hofrenning and Gerhard Luther Hofrenning. She grew up in St. Louis Park, MN, where she graduated from St. Louis Park High School. She met her husband Tom in 1965 as a student at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Two years later, on August 25, 1967, they married at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Hopkins, MN. Together, they spent the next nine years in New Orleans, LA; Minneapolis, MN; and Karlsruhe, Germany, while Tom completed his medical degree, training, and military service. They settled in Austin, MN for twelve years, and the family moved to Evansville in 1988. They were blessed with three children: son Christopher in 1972 and twins Luke and Sarah in 1978. She was a loving wife and a nurturing, generous, and warm-hearted mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Her kindness and smile lit up a room, and her patient and caring presence touched everyone lucky enough to have known her. Words cannot do justice to the memory of such a special person.
Throughout her life, Carol brought her nurturing and loving spirit into her career and volunteer work. Carol pursued nursing degrees, earning an Associate’s degree in 1986 from Austin Community College and later a BSN-RN degree in 1995 from the University of Southern Indiana, with her induction into the National Nursing Honor Society the same year. She began her nursing career at the Visiting Nurse Association and later became a public health nurse at the Vanderburgh County Health Department until her retirement in 2010. She was also a dedicated advocate for healthy lifestyles and access to health information. She helped to create and publish a book of running and walking paths in the Evansville area and partnered closely with Deaconess and TMMI Toyota to establish the Step Up Club, a running and walking program that inspired youth across the area.
Carol was a devoted and faithful Christian, who was actively involved in the life of Grace Lutheran Church, which later merged into Grace and Peace Lutheran Church. She gave of her time and skills by establishing a parish nurse program at Grace Lutheran Church, becoming one of the first parish nurses in southwestern Indiana. Carol served on the church council, Mission of Grace board, and led the parish nurse program. She loved her Grace and Peace family, who reciprocated their love by creating a worship service for dementia patients at Walnut Creek Special Care Center. Carol’s family sponsored a patient suite at the Linda White Hospice at Deaconess Hospital to celebrate Carol’s life and career.
Carol is survived by her husband Tom; three children, Christopher (Diane) Anderson, Sarah (Justin) Travis, and Luke Anderson; three grandchildren, Sydney Travis, Leah Travis, and Owen Anderson; brother Paul (Suzanne) Hofrenning; and sisters, Mary (Russell) Johnson and Elizabeth (Charles) Henderson.
A Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Alexander Newburgh Chapel, 5333 State Road 261, officiated by Rev. Michelle Freeman. Family and friends may visit Friday, January 31, 2025 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNewburghChapel.com.
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