Lucille “Lou” Carroll-Skarban, 89, Two Rivers, formerly of Oconto Falls, died Wednesday evening, July 8, 2015, at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers, following a short illness. She was born on Dec. 14, 1925, in Two Rivers to Joseph and Whilimenia (Gauthier) Richard.
Lou, as she was affectionately known by her family and friends, grew up in Two Rivers, where she attended St. Luke’s parochial school. She graduated from Washington High School with the Class of 1943. She entertained many with her beautiful singing voice. Following high school, she worked in the office of Paragon Electric in Two Rivers for three years during World War II.
On July 10, 1945, she married John E. Carroll in Two Rivers, and the couple had five children. The family lived in Milwaukee, Menasha, Manitowoc and Iron Mountain, Michigan, before moving to Oconto Falls in 1961. During her 49 years of living in Oconto Falls, Lou was well known as a hard worker and good provider, selling Fuller Brush and writing for the Marinette Eagle Star. She also clerked at Bauman’s Clothing Store and Westside Mart grocery, catered weddings, banquets and Kiwanis meetings, and cooked at River Island Golf Club, all while raising her children.
In 1972, she went to work for Scott Paper Co. in its lab department, performing quality control and eventually became floor supervisor until retiring in 1989.
On May 6, 1989, she married Edward Skarban at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls. Lou and Ed enjoyed their lives together in retirement, hosting family and friends at their cottage on the Oconto River. Lou was a longtime member of St. Anthony Parish and the Altar Rosary Society (PCCW), which she served as president. She also served as a lay reader and Communion distributor, sang in the sanctuary singers and volunteered as funeral dinner chairman for many years.
As an avid bowler who won her first tournament at the age of 16, she also displayed her athletic abilities in golf, teaching her children the sport, and enjoyed fishing. While her kids were growing up, she started the Fallette Drill Team, a precision marching unit, originally made up of fourth- to eighth-grade students and eventually high school.
Lou will be lovingly remembered as a great mother, grandmother, sister and friend of many people.
Survivors are her five children, Connie (Mike) Ronk, New Berlin, Chris (Pete) Meinholz, Stevens Point, Colleen (Dale) Graham, Oconto Falls, Edward Carroll, San Diego, California, and Michael “Mick” (Julie) Carroll, Suamico; 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Marie Klein, Wyn “Chris” (Marc) Johnson and Shirley Andrews, all of Two Rivers; Ed Skarban’s daughter, Jackie Valley, Green Bay; two sisters-in-law, Delores Skarban, Milwaukee, and Joanne Monfort, Kelly Lake; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ed; brother, Larry (Alice) Richard; two sisters, infant Margaret Richard and Frances (Harry) McFall; and brothers-in-law, Dexter “Bud” Andrews and Ivan Klein.
Visitation was held from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls, with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Sunday. Visitation continued after 9 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2015, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls until the time of the service. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Robert Karuhn officiating. Entombment took place at Nicolet Memorial Gardens, Green Bay.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials will be given toward Alzheimer’s research.
Lou’s children would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Marie Klein and Shirley Andrews for their loving support and dedication to Mother.
