Carol Ann Kvarnberg, age 87, of Chelsea, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Silver Maples of Chelsea .
Carol was born July 3, 1939, in Muskegon, Michigan, the daughter of John "Adolf" and Mae (Conklin) Dahlquist. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1956 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan.
On May 7, 1960, Carol married Donald E. Kvarnberg in Muskegon. Together, they shared 62 years of marriage, raising their family in Chelsea and welcoming two exchange students into their home, Per Gellstrom from Sweden in 1974, and Joanne Westra from the Netherlands in 1979.
Carol was an exceptional homemaker. She was a talented seamstress who made her own wedding dress and countless clothes over the years. She enjoyed knitting, needlepoint, as well as canning and freezing vegetables from their garden, making freezer jam, cooking, and baking. A favorite with her grandchildren were her famous waffles, Swedish pancakes, and lemon bars. She was an excellent proofreader and was wicked with her red pen. Carol was a member of the Modern Mothers Club in the 1970s and was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. She and Don enjoyed golfing and were life-members of Inverness Country Club. She enjoyed playing golf in the Women’s League at Inverness and formed many lasting friendships.
In the late 1970s, Carol returned to the workforce, taking a position as Executive Secretary at BookCrafters in Chelsea. She was well respected and worked there for 25 years before retiring in 2002.
After retirement, Carol and Don spent their winters in Venice, FL, where they were members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, enjoying cruises and trips with family and close friends. They had a close-knit circle of friends and enjoyed getting together for meals, playing cards, and traveling together.
Carol and Don moved to the Silver Maples Retirement Community in 2021. There, Carol continued to give of her time and talents, serving on the Scholarship Committee and enjoying the many opportunities that Silver Maples offered. She enjoyed playing Scrabble, doing puzzles, and going to dinner with her ladies.
Above all, Carol and Don were a constant source of love and support to their children and grandchildren. They attended countless band and orchestra concerts, sporting events, and other activities throughout the years.
Carol will be remembered for her sweet disposition and quiet strength. She was intelligent, extraordinarily organized, fiercely independent, and she will be missed by many.
Carol is survived by her four children, Steve (Paula) Kvarnberg of Lake Clarke Shores, FL; Chris Kvarnberg (Patrick Powers) of Kalamazoo; Cindy (John) Mitchell of Chelsea; and David (Julie Sanfilippo) Kvarnberg of Forest Park, IL; nine grandchildren: Haley and Erik Kvarnberg, Eretia Schultz (Devin Davis), Paige (Brad) Carpenter, Jacob (Elisa) Ortega-Schultz, Wesley Mitchell (Erin Vincek), Mason Mitchell, AJ Mitchell (Addie McCarthy), and Sophie Mitchell (Joey Kinjorski); and great-grandchildren, Eli Warner, Leo and Aubrie Carpenter, and Nehemiah and Seth Ortega-Schultz.
She is also survived by her brother, Ronald Dahlquist; sister-in-law, Grace (Kurt Molholm) Reishus; brother-in-law, Lee (Maria Elena) Kvarnberg; and nieces and nephews: Barb (Matt) Whitney, Bill (Stephanie) Dahlquist, Ingrid (Brian) Bowers, Kiersten (Alberto Ferrer) Zweibaum, and Daniel (Elyse Julian) Kvarnberg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, in 2022.
Visitation will be held at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home on Thursday, September 10, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., as well as on Friday, September 11, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, 11:00 a.m., at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea, with Pastor Jeff Crowder officiating.
Burial will take place at North Lake Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Silver Maples Employee Scholarship Fund.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.
