Carol Jean Nelson passed away unexpectedly on January 30, 2025. She was born to Joseph and Caren Vogt on August 31, 1968. She graduated from Hempstead High School in 1986 and from the University of Northern Iowa in 1990. She married her loving husband, John, on November 3, 1995. She was a beloved mother to five children, David, Audrey, Liza, Erin, and Joshua, and a cherished grandma to Eleanor, Daniel, and Magnus. She was a monumental blessing to her family, preparing homemade meals, homeschooling Joshua, hosting gatherings, and showering the people around her with love. Her attentiveness to the needs of those around her was unmatched. She was strong, beautiful, intelligent, and the most selfless person any of us knew.

She had a deep faith and trust in God. She was a living embodiment of James 2, demonstrating her faith by her works and seeking to love Christ by loving “the least of these.” She was the co-founder of Martha’s House of Hope, a home for women in crisis pregnancies that sought to break the cycle of poverty and help young moms to achieve independence. She helped a countless number of others through her generosity, acts of service, and wise counsel. Despite all she did, Carol was not interested in recognition and embodied Christ’s command to, “not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.”

Carol is survived by her parents, Joseph and Caren Vogt, her husband, John, her five children, her daughter-in-law, Madeline, son-in-law, Andrew, three grandchildren, one brother, Joey (April) Vogt and many nieces, nephews and Godchildren. She will be missed dearly, and her loss is deeply felt. We look forward with hope to rejoicing with her again in paradise. We love you, Mom!

Services for Carol will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church located at 2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA 50010. The recitation of the rosary will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The visitation will be held at 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with a Prayer Vigil to begin at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, February 5, another visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., and the funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a luncheon and burial to follow at the Gilbert Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Martha’s House of Hope, the Ghana Christian Family Foundation, or St. Cecilia’s Church.