Carol “Charlie” Marie (Tarnowski) Verhulst

Carol “Charlie” Marie (Tarnowski) Verhulst, 76, Holcombe, passed away Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, at Azura Memory Care of Eau Claire.

Carol was born Jan. 19, 1947, to Eugene and Irene (Logan) Tarnowski.

She grew up in Holcombe, near the Flambeau Mountain.

Carol graduated from the Lake Holcombe High School in 1965. She then went to Chicago, Ill., and attended airline school for one year.

She moved back to Holcombe, and was a secretary at the Lake Holcombe School. She would meet the love of her life shortly after, James Verhulst. They were married Dec. 21, 1968.

Carol continued working at the Lake Holcombe School until 1970, then became a wonderful, loving, full-time mom. Later in life, she would join her husband and son, working as a CNC operator, at their family business, Superior Machine & Design in Holcombe.

Besides being a full-time mom, she enjoyed oil painting, quilting and her ’60s music was always playing. She loved snowmobiling and taking her Ski-Doo out to the ice shack, for a day of fishing. In the spring, she was ready for the crappies to start biting.

Carol was always helping with maple syrup, picking blackberries and canning vegetables from her garden. Carol’s favorite beach was Julian Bay, on Stockton Island, Lake Superior, and she loved the singing sand. Carol’s favorite snack was a chocolate Hershey’s bar and a Mountain Dew.

She had so many fun memories she shared with her family. She loved the Flambeau Mountain and growing up there. She and her siblings would take their runner sleds in the winter, and slide down the mountain road; her dad would be on the bottom to stop them.

We are so happy for all the memories and talents she shared, with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by daughter – Mikelle (Gary) Salzgeber; son – Jason (Tami) Verhulst; her grandchildren – Mikali (Todd) Hicke Salzgeber, Zackari Salzgeber, Cameron Verhulst, Alyssa Verhulst, Matthew Verhulst and Lucas Verhulst; sister – Judy (Ray) Liszewski; and brother – Larry (Lyn) Tarnowski.

She was preceded in death by her parents – Eugene and Irene Tarnowski; brother – James Tarnowski; and her loving husband – James Vehulst.

Please join us to celebrate the lives of Carol and James Verhulst. We will gather Dec. 7, at the Lake Holcombe Lions Club pavilion, from 5-7 p.m.