Carolyn Claire Noll

     Carolyn Claire (Roskens) Noll (known to her beloved grandchildren as Manga) passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, July 30th, 2022.  Carolyn was the baby of the family born to William and Delores (Beving) Roskens on September 14, 1937 in Spencer, Iowa.  She married the love of her life, Darrell Dean Noll on July 13, 1957 at the Hope Reformed Church in Spencer, where they were long time members.  They moved to the family farm in 1960 where they still reside. 

     Carolyn attended Teaching College at the University of Northern Iowa and although she never formally taught school, she taught her girls, grandchildren and great-grandchildren many things during her life, the love of music being a big one.  A four year All State Choir Member, she appreciated all things musical.  ‘Laine and Marti loved sitting at the piano while she played a variety of tunes including “Polli-Wolli-Doodle all the Day” which she played over and over and over again by request.  She enjoyed singing in the church choir, as well as with “The Hope Trio” for a number of years.  Her favorite musical group (besides the Statler Brothers), was her grandchildren’s sandbox band whose single claim to fame was an amazing rendition of “Elvira”, which she happily listened to over and over and over again.  In later years, she and Darrell began attending and eventually joined Zion United Methodist Church.  They loved being back in a small country church with “friends who were neighbors”.  They were active participants and she especially enjoyed being asked to lead the Christmas Carol Hymn Sing for many years. 

     It was no secret Carolyn loved the outdoors.  Raised with 2 older brothers on the farm, she loved playing outside, shooting marbles and fishing.  She attempted to teach her daughters how to clean a fish and dress a chicken, but they were not enthusiastic students.  Much to her chagrin, they never picked up her keen sense of direction and gopher trapping skills either.  She and her mother were talented seamstresses, and much fun was had at “sewing club” with her girls.  She also shared her love of cards, jigsaw puzzles and games with all her family and was an avid (some would say ruthless) 500 player right to the end. 

     She worked side by side with Darrell on the farm her entire life.  They raised their girls along with corn, beans, hay and cattle.  Her beautiful handwriting was never more evident than in the “Cow Book” where she recorded all data regarding their very successful cow-calf operation for over 60 years until their dispersal sale in 2020.  Along with Darrell, she loved horses and was a loving caretaker to a number of equine family members over the years.  She loved all things western…her favorite cowman was Darrell, but her favorite cowboy was Billy Etbauer.   She and Darrell greatly enjoyed following rodeo, both live and on TV, not to mention the ones that happened every time the family got together. 

     Carolyn also loved attending the Clay County Fair.  Living just a few miles away there were very few days she was not in attendance there throughout her entire life.  Much time was spent in the 4-H Show ring, where she showed Dairy Cattle as a young girl.  Later she served as behind the scenes organizer and head cheerleader while her girls showed Beef Cattle.  Even more fun was watching her grandchildren show sheep and cattle…and one of her greatest joys just last year was watching her 6-year-old great-granddaughter Denver, show her sheep at the fair!  Over the years as spectators, EVERYONE knew exactly where to find her & Darrell, sitting by their favorite pole in “their spot” in the show ring.

     Spending time with her family was her favorite thing.  She loved her daughters, perhaps mostly because they gave her four such incredible grandchildren, who in turn gave her six of the very best great-grandchildren she ever met!  

     She is survived by Darrell, her husband and best friend of 65 years.  As well as daughters Elaine (David) Edwardson, Ringsted, Iowa; Marti Habeger (Clint Goche), Burt, Iowa; and grandchildren, Noll (Jolynn) Ernst, children Denver and Decker, Woodburn, Iowa; Ryan Habeger, son Corbin Algona, Iowa; Kaitlyn (Kyle) Myers sons Kaiden and Kole, Indianola, Iowa; Mitchell (Melissa) Habeger, son Waylon, Burt, Iowa; sister-in-law and best girlfriend Lois Roskens, Omaha, Nebraska; brother Russell (Donna) Roskens, Las Vegas, Nevada; several nieces and nephews and her horse of over 20 years (and a gift from Darrell), Honey.

     She was preceded in death by her eldest brother Ronald Roskens and son-in-law Kent Habeger.

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