Carol Martha (Kahn) Schlegel

Carol Martha (Kahn) Schlegel, age 72, passed from this life to the next on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at her home in Kalispell, Montana, on a cloud of love, good wished and prayers. She was born August 22, 1934 in Malta, Montana to George and Lillian (Evenson) Kahn.

Soon after her birth her family moved to the Swan River area where they lived until moving to Kalispell in 1939. Carol met and married the love of her life; Bill Schlegel and they had 56 wonderful years together. Though she worked at various jobs her true life's work was the raising of their children and making their home a happy, warm and inviting place.

Over the years, Carol was active in the Friendship Club, the Flathead Pioneer Auto Club and Bible Study Fellowship. She was also an avid sports fan—as long as the sport was one in which one of her kids and grandkids was participating.

What she lacked in formal education, Carol made up for, in useful, hands-on knowledge. She had a lifelong interest in genealogy, and before the computer, kept the family tree in her head. Through she explained over and over again which cousin's second wife had the son who married the neighbor's aunt's older sister, the rest of us could never quite keep it straight.

Carol didn't have a degree in engineering, but could build cakes, dolls, clothing, quilts and parties without blinking. She was a gracious hostess and set a table to put Martha Stewart (and the daughters-in-law) to shame. Everyone was welcome in her home and at her table. None of her children, grandchildren or their friends were ever turned away, and no one left the house hungry if she had anything to say about it. She showed us all how much we were loved by keeping open house 365 days a year.

A kind, gracious and loving woman, Carol was the glue that held her family together, and her arms were always open to encompass newcomers into her circle of love. Our lives will never be quite the same and we look forward to seeing her in heaven.

Carol was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Lillian and Clarence Atteberry; her father George Kahn, and a sister Delores Kahn.

She is now survived by her husband, Bill Schlegel of Kalispell, MT; 4 sons; Leslie Schlegel and wife, Mary; Ron Schlegel and wife Vickie; Mike Schlegel and wife Julaine; Mark Schlegel and Codi all of Kalispell, MT; one daughter; Sandy Manning and husband Jeff of Laurenceberg, IN; grandchildren; Wayne (Denise) and Jerry Schlegel (Tanya) and Karen Graham (Scott), Priscilla, Alex and Hannah Schlegel and Shannah Billington (Tony), Jessa and Karsen Manning, Kaylynn, Kylie and Kayden Schlegel, and Kahn Schlegel; great grandchildren; Royce and Shelby Schlegel, Casey Marquete, Marlie and Ashlyn Graham, Dylan Billington, Joel Turner and Kobe Schlegel; Siblings; George Kahn (Carla); Dorothy McMillan, Betty Farris, and Tom and Carol Hamlik; also numerous nieces and nephews; Aunt Dolly Evenson, and dear friends; Barb Bennett, Roy and Phyllis Caldwell, Cleo Keenen and Violet Saimo.

Funeral services for Carol Martha Schlegel will be held on Monday October 16, 2006 at 3 PM at the Christian Center with graveside services following and a reception at the Eagles' Hall in Kalispell, MT. The family respectfully suggests memorials to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop Ste 100, Kalispell, MT or Shodair Children's Hospital, P. O. Box 5539, Helena Mt 59604.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Carol's Family.