Carroll William Klanderman

Carroll William Klanderman, age 95, passed away peacefully at the Baldwin Care Center on September 7, 2025. He was the third of five surviving children of James and Erna (VanDyke) Klanderman, born in their Baldwin township farmhouse on November 12, 1929.

He attended Pine Lake school for all eight elementary grades and graduated from Baldwin High School in 1947.

In 1952, he married Dorothy Halvorson. They had four children and were together for 33 years. Shortly after their first child was born, Carroll was drafted into the Army during the Korean War, where he served as a military policeman in Georgia.

Carroll and Dorothy purchased the Klanderman home place in 1956. There, he farmed and ran a carpentry business for 23 years. His feelings for the land and dairy farming ran deep, and he lamented the loss of the small Wisconsin dairy farm. The work was hard, but later in life, he wrote: “I look back on those experiences with extreme fondness.”

In 1986, Carroll and Dorothy divorced. Shortly thereafter, Carroll met Norma Berkseth in the parking lot of the Coachman Supper Club. She invited him in for what would be the first of many dances. Norma quickly became the love of his life, and they married in 1986. Carroll and Norma were quite the power couple, living their lives to the fullest! Their adventures were endless, traveling to Europe; visiting homesteads in Holland, Norway, and Ireland; tending to their rose gardens; sipping tea on their front porch; reading together at night in their matching wing-backed chairs. Carroll’s dedication to Norma had no bounds. She passed in 2023, leaving Carroll to mourn her death until his final days. He spoke of her every day, often through tears, sharing stories and saying, “I loved that woman, my darling, my sweetie”.

Throughout Carroll’s life, his talents were abundant. Telling Ole & Lena jokes, speaking Norwegian, wood carving, and the gift of gab were just a few of his most notable attributes. If you were close to Carroll, he likely gifted you a carving. He carved everything from signs and trinket boxes to animals and Celtic crosses, and of course, the occasional bawdy character. Carroll also loved talking while sharing a cup of coffee. His ability to spark up a conversation with anyone was effortless, and he had a knack for finding a connection (whether it be family, friend, or acquaintance), which typically led to a story and more cups of coffee.

To his family, Carroll was a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His love and pride for his kin ran deep, and he was not afraid to express it. His intuition in his final days brought his family together. Carroll was not an outwardly religious man, but in the days preceding his death, he expressed his love for Jesus and his peace knowing he would soon rest in heaven.

Carroll is preceded in death by his loving wife, parents, and siblings. His stories and love live on through his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in both of the families to which he belonged.

The families ask that you join them for a gathering to celebrate his life through fellowship, singing, and prayer at Peace Lutheran Church in Baldwin on Friday September 26th at 11am, with a luncheon and informal visitation to follow from 12pm - 2pm.