Countless times, our family would arrive for a weekend on a Friday afternoon, with all the tactical subtlety of a road construction crew. Upon our noisy entry, I could tell Aunt Carol had a vat of red cabbage something or other on the stove. There would be the faint hint of cigarette smoke hanging in the air and a barely perceptible, hoppy whiff of Uncle Leroy’s discounted beer. The smell of freshly cut, deep green grass well-watered by Nile floods would frame the scene and the musty basement hinted at subterranean adventures. 

In the middle of it all was Aunt Carol, the center around which the whole crazy thing inexorably rotated. Whether at her big house on the lake, a spartan cabin in Mio, or a campsite in the UP where our lost caravan of suburban Gypsies retraced the steps of a local Native American tribe whose name rhymed with Cluck-awe-wees, Aunt Carol always gave me a feeling of belonging, a feeling both familiar and with a promise of adventure, a feeling of being liberated while simultaneously being comfortably confined. 

I’m grateful to Aunt Carol for giving me that feeling, the smell of welcomeness, the smell of a second home. It meant I was always invited, free to explore, free to disagree, free to enjoy. That meant a lot to me as a kid. As an adult, I strive to give that same feeling to my nieces and nephews, including Aunt Carol’s beautiful grandkids - perhaps minus the red cabbage.

Thank you for that gift and memory Aunt Carol. I love you and I am going to miss you.

Growing up,  Aunt Carol’s house was like a second home for my brothers and me. I estimate we spent every 3rd weekend there. The house itself was memorable in all its roaring 20’s glory. The rumor was that it had once been the clubhouse for the just formed Detroit Tigers. In my mind’s eye, I imagined Ty Cobb smoking a cigar on the very steps I threw a tennis ball against to take infield practice.

The 1st floor had an enormous, uninsulated porch that would host a near continuous game of Euchre as the adults nominally supervised our disorganized and idyllic summer chaos.  Our games included Pete Rose headfirst slide contests during May flooding, and hours long games of water tag in the canal, in water where the bottom was barely reachable for cousins on the shorter side, like me.  

During winter, we’d withdraw to the west side of the house, usually decorated with a misshaped Christmas tree, the inevitable result of an entertaining and high decibel December Harbor Beach compromise between my Aunt and Uncle Leroy. I have very warm memories of watching New Year’s Eve Red Wings games with my cousins while the adults continued the eternal card game in the dining room.

I think my favorite spot was the basement. With an enormous bar and teak wall paneling gnawed at by annual flooding as predictable as the Nile Delta, it was a perfect setting for grand Christmas parties. However, my most cherished memories were of exploring “hidden” areas where no parties took place. Along with my brothers and led by my cousin Billy, we’d build forts under stairs and barely used storage rooms. I can still smell the mild musty aroma and feel the surge of adrenaline as we uncovered yet another unknown area of that house.

Really great pictures of a really great lady. Carol loved her family hard. I always enjoyed spending time with her playing cards or just talking. She was so kind to let us stay in her home when Joe and I would come visit and 
I felt honored that I got invited to the cabin. I hope it brings you all peace knowing she will be reunited with Leroy.

Sending my love and  condolences

I remember so fondly all the, many days & nights my children I spent at Carol & Leroys home on the lake.  We were always welcome & many times spent the night.  We enjoyed swimming & boating  in the 70’s & 80’s, my kids, Lisa, Lori, & Billy.  My kids learned to swim at their home & enjoyed being on the lake.
I will miss Carol, may she rest in peace & be with Leroy eternally.
May she rest in peace.
Pam Kraft

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Lisa (Roger) Antkiewicz, Lori (Adam) deCaussin & William (Jacie) Moldenhauer

Connor, Jacob, Alina, Carlie, Hunter, Sawyer & Lucas

Victoria (Robert) Walker

Leroy Moldenhauer

Alina (Dhaeyaert) Elegeer

Phillip, Harold "Skip", Dolores, Charles & Linda

Kaul Funeral Home

Carol Moldenhauer

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Carol Ann Moldenhauer

September 17, 1946 – October 2, 2024

Kaul Funeral Home

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