Ilene Bader-Carroll

Ilene Bader-Carroll passed away peacefully, Monday, July 15, 2024, having lived 86 wonderful years.

Ilene was born in Rice Lake, Oct. 19, 1937, graduated from Barron High and Wisconsin State College-River Falls, and taught in oneroom school houses, before teaching in Cornell.

Teaching and her students brought Ilene much enjoyment.

She married Richard Bader, in 1958, and in 1982, married Robert Carroll, with whom she owned and operated the A& W, and Jon Henry’s restaurants, and gained a stepdaughter, Ramona.

For the past 14 years, Ilene has been with her special friend and partner, David Keeler, living between Florida and Birchwood, where she enjoyed times with his three daughters and grandchildren.

Ilene was always up for an adventure and her love of travel took her everywhere, from camping in a tent across the USA, to riding a camel in Egypt. She reveled in her travels to India, Europe, Canada and Mexico, and finding her heritage in Scandinavia.

She enjoyed reading, jigsaw puzzles, making lefse and Scandinavian desserts, watching wildlife and birds, and eating maple nut ice cream. Ilene was involved in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cornell, for many years.

Under her gentle demeanor, her competitive edge was seen in playing Flinch, Scrabble and Dominoes. Ilene was also a collector of cruets, depression glass and Santas. Her favorite movie was The Sound of Music and her only fear was of snakes!

She is survived by her daughters – Kathleen Bader and Linda (Dan) Kadlec; stepdaughter – Ramona (Robert) Schleser; grandchildren – Trevor (Shasta) Mohr, Kelly (Lucas) Koenig, Devin (Megan) Kadlec, and Derek and Adam Schleser; great-grandchildren – Kendall, Roman and Gibson Koenig, Colton and Savannah Mohr, Lainey and Braxton Kadlec, and Levi Schleser; sister – Sharon Bringman; and David Keeler.

She was preceded in death by her husbands – Richard and Robert; son – Dale; parents – Esther (Borg) and Eric Larson; brother – Norman Larson; and sister – Muriel Sain.

A private service for immediate family will be held in the future.

The family would like to thank Bloomer Mayo Hospital and Borton-Leiser Funeral Home, for their compassionate care and suggests that memorials be made to the Cornell Friends of the Library.