Carol Ann Wessel

Born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin on the 5th of July, 1940, in what was certainly another hot, Midwestern summer, Carol was the first in a crop of three daughters, Janet and Beverly, born to William and Dorothy Hubbard.  She grew tall like the corn.

She attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and after graduation began her first career as a teacher, She applied patience and diligence to the growth of young minds, from Tomah to Cudahy and points in between.  However, at some point, that patience wore thin and a restless heart inspired Carol to pull up each and every one of her roots, face west, and enter the summer of her life.

In 1970, Carol made her way out to the Pacific Northwest, trading green pastures for greener trees and a shy sun.  Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to a man of the sea, the third of three sons raised in Kitsap’s rain-soaked soil.  Michael was to be her guide.  To show her the beauty that lay beneath these silver skies.  He was tall like the firs.

Carol and Mike married in 1971 and began placing the roots of their tree.  They built a home and began shaping a landscape that come to reflect their creativity and ingenuity.  Blessed by both the sun and rain and worked with bare and familiar hands, home, garden and inhabitants were always linked.

In September of 1975 Carol had her son, Joshua.  His coming was a bountiful fall between seasons of drought as she fought off the blights of cancer that would attempt to stop her growth and bend her branches away from the sun.  Carol never wavered and never complained.

She applied that same patience and diligence to Josh (and Mike) to grow and shape them into the men they are Today.  She provided creativity, inspiration and challenges for their minds to solve and the patience to take the time to appreciate what you’ve done.  They returned the favor by providing equal parts labor, laughter and Dungeness Crab.

Carol’s winter came early on September 20th of 2022, as her roots had finally drawn forth all the life the earth could provide.  She passed quietly just after the sun had set on an uniquely beautiful fall day.

Carol Ann Wessel lives on, in every plant she sprouted from the soil, in the seeds that grow in the hearts of those that knew her and shared her passions, and in the memory we can all share when we see beauty in nature and realize what can come from a little patience and diligence.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Michael of Bremerton, son Joshua (and Elise) Wessel of Scottsdale, AZ. Sisters Janet (and Richard) Cavanaugh of Wisconsin Rapids, WI and Beverly (and Dick) Strandlof of Dayton, MT, and brother’s in law, Jim (and Phyllis) Wessel of Silverdale and John Wessel of the Philippines, nephews Michael (WI), Jason (WI) and Kevin (MT), Bram (WA), Matt (OR) and Zach (CA) and niece Mairene (CA).

Special thanks to the loving and selfless Nurses in the 4th floor ICU of St. Michael’s Hospital, who took such precious care of her during her time with them.