Carol E. Krenek Obituary
Services will be held at the First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo on June 21 at 11:00 with visitation from 10:00-11:00. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the First Congregational Church Century Building Maintenance and Improvement Fund, a fund that will continue to help with the upkeep of the First Congregational Church.
Carol Elizabeth (Walter) Krenek, 83, of Kalamazoo peacefully passed away on May 22, 2025, at Sue's Loving Care after a courageous journey with Alzheimer's.
Carol was born on March 28, 1942, to Ferdinand Walter and Margaret (Goble) Walter in Kalamazoo, MI. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1960. She is remembered by classmates as a bright young woman who graduated near the top of her class.
She continued her education at Western Michigan University, earning her bachelor's degree in education and her Masters in mixed medium arts. Carol went on to teach English and speech at St Augustine High School. She was proud to be one of the first Protestants to teach in the Catholic school. She taught there until 1967 when she had her first daughter.
In 1962, Carol married her best friend and the love of her life, Charles Krenek. They matched each other stride for stride as they built a life together. From completing a home addition while raising two daughters to becoming doting grandparents, they made each other's lives better.
Carol was an active, lifetime member of the First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo. She served the church in many roles including a Children's Education Minister, an usher, Sunday school teacher and Memorial Day weekend camping coordinator. She served on multiple committees and was on the search committee for more than one minister.
She was a member of the Kalamazoo Junior Women's League for many years. Carol helped shop for shut-ins, participated in the writing of their famous cookbook, volunteered at the Well Baby Clinic and helped run their Santa's Workshop program. She believed in their mission of community service and dedicated many hours to making Kalamazoo a better place.
Carol was a longtime leader for the Glowing Embers Girl Scout Council. She was a leader for both of her daughter's troops, teaching many girls along the way. She hosted fire building activities in the driveway, was a neighborhood leader and was in charge of district camporees at Camp Merry Wood. She was passionate about teaching girls that there was nothing they could not do.
Carol was an accomplished cook and seamstress, as well. Friends have shared stories of learning how to cook a turkey by watching her cook at community Thanksgiving dinners. At Christmas, she would bake more than 300 dozen cookies to share with friends and family. She hand delivered them to doctor's offices, schools, neighbors and other places she interacted with during the year. She made wedding and prom dresses over the years, even remaking her own wedding dress so her daughter and granddaughter could wear it. The baby quilts she lovingly pieced together are scattered around the United States.
Carol volunteered in public schools for many years. She worked in the library of Woodward Elementary shelving books and completing tasks such as laminating and copying and tutoring math at Milwood Jr. High. It was important to her that she support the community that was helping to raise her children.
Carol later joined the staff at the Oakwood Plaza Pharmacy. For 22 years, she got to know and support many customers—changing watch batteries, helping them find what they needed, and mentoring younger employees.
When her daughters had children, Carol embraced her role as a devoted grandmother. The master planner created Camp Krenek where the grandchildren would come every year so they would get to know Charlie and Carol as well as each other. Charlie and Carol built swing sets, sewed tents and hand-crafted toys for the children. Over the decades they attended sporting events, musical performances, Scouting Courts of Honor, theatrical performances and graduations. She passed on many of her talents while teaching her grandchildren to be creative and productive adults.
Her memory loss began well over a decade ago. Carol faced it bravely. She left notes with family lore throughout the house helping us remember family history and the extraordinary woman she was. Her presence is and will always be missed.
Carol was predeceased by her parents and her grandson Peter Kenneth Dudley. She is survived by her husband, Charles Krenek, her daughters Cheri (Eric) John and Christine (Mark) Dudley, and nine grandchildren.
