Karol Marie Richardson, 81, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021, surrounded by her family.
Karol was born on April 29th , 1940, in Albany township to loving parents Herman and Ann (Bauer) Weissinger. She was an older sister to LaVerne and Norma. Karol grew up on the family farm but was not a “farm girl.” She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Lima, Wisconsin. After school, Karol worked at several banks and at Inver Hills Community College.
Karol met her best friend and the love of her life, Don Richardson, at the Recreational Hall in Arkansaw, Wisconsin. While those around them didn’t understand how a gal from Durand could fall for a guy from Arkansaw, Karol and Don married on May 21, 1960, and had 61 wonderful years of marriage. Their first years together brought them to many parts of the Midwest—from Rochester, to St. Paul, and then South St. Paul.
In 1964, they bought their first home in Inver Grove Heights, where they lived for nearly 40 years. While there, they raised their two children, Kyle and Kay. Karol and Don created a lifetime’s worth of wonderful memories with their kids, from endless camping adventures in their pop-up camper and fifth wheel to many fun road trips.
After their kids were grown, Karol and Don continued to travel the world. Karol enjoyed joining Don in his drives across the country in his semi-truck. They made it to all 50 states together. The two of them went on many cruises and bus trips, but Karol’s favorite destination was Alaska.
Karol loved going out for a great meal at Red Lobster or Tinucci’s. She had a peculiar taste for snacky foods. Her favorites were Jelly Belly Jellybeans, Hot Tamales, microwave popcorn, and butter pretzels.
Karol cherished spending time with her family and was a loving grandma to Leah, Krista, and Jay. She spent her Tuesdays watching them and enjoyed hosting countless tea parties and morning bagel dates. She also loved family time in Northern Minnesota. Some of her favorite activities there included sitting on a swing near the lake, reading books, and completing word searches.
Even after retiring, Karol and Don’s adventures continued. They built a home in Arkansaw, Wisconsin and lived there for 14 years. Karol worked as a lunch lady for the local elementary schools, and in her free time she enjoyed the wildlife surrounding their new home. Karol loved her rose garden and bird watching—especially for hummingbirds. She was even known to scare off a black bear or two by shouting “shoo” and waving a dishcloth! In 2018, Karol and Don moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family. While living in their townhome, Karol continued to give the mailman a workout delivering numerous catalogs.
Karol was preceded in death by parents, Herman and Ann Weissinger; and granddaughter, Krista Rolfzen.
She is survived by her loving husband, Don; son, Kyle; daughter, Kay (Mark) Rolfzen; grandchildren, Leah (Shane) DeSantis and Jay Rolfzen (Maria Gaertner); brother, LaVerne Weissinger; sister, Norma (Don) Pittman; several nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends.
Karol was a wonderful wife, mom, grandma, and friend. She always had kind words and a smile for her loved ones and will be missed deeply by all that knew her. Her family takes comfort knowing there was a joyous reunion in Heaven between Karol, her parents, and her granddaughter Krista.
A celebration of life will be held from 1-3 PM, with a time for sharing memories at 2:30 PM on Saturday, November 6th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. The burial will be at a later date at the Arkansaw Memorial Cemetery in Wisconsin.