Carole Jean Simmons' Obituary
Carole Jean (Katich) Simmons July 17, 1939-July 26, 2021
Our beautiful mother Carole passed away July 26 at Regency Care Center in Norwalk, Iowa after battling progressive dementia. Carole was a fighter. She contracted Covid-19 in October 2020 and survived.
Carole was born to John and Mary (Butkovich) Katich in Centerville, Iowa.
Carole attended St. Marys Catholic School, Junior High, and Centerville High School where she participated in basketball.
Carole was married at an early age to Michael A. Raskie of Cincinnati, Iowa. To this union four children were born; Debra, Linda, Cheri, and Timothy. That marriage was dissolved.
Carole remarried Fred (Red) Simmons of Centerville and they had a daughter Stephanie.
As Caroles children grew, she was a stay-at-home mother and was active in TTT and PTA. She was also a Girl Scout Leader, and softball coach. She enjoyed being involved in her childrens extracurricular activities.
While in Centerville, Caroles first job was a door-to-door sales person selling Swipe. She later sold advertisements at the Iowegian. Carole also enjoyed helping her husband Fred in his roofing and bricklaying profession. Carole enjoyed dealing in antiques and rarities. She owned The Everything Shop on the south end of town. Carole was later the start-up manager at the new Super 8 Motel. She worked many years at Stephanies Fashions; a position she really loved.
Carole moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1995 to be closer to her daughter Stephanie. She worked several retail jobs before becoming a salesperson at Younkers in SouthRidge Mall. Carole was employed with Younkers for over 20 years before retiring at the age of 78. Carole became known as the "Younkers Girl." She could put an outfit together in an instant to make her customers look fabulous.
Carole was a member of St. Marys Catholic Church, loved playing Bingo, playing and watching tennis, decorating, and fashions.
Carole is preceded in death by her husband, Fred (Red) Simmons, Parents John and Mary Katich, Brother John (Hunge) Katich, Brother Vic Katich, Daughter Debra (Raskie) Collins, and Grandson Parker Graf.
Carole is survived by her children Linda (Ahmed) Aziz of Centerville, Cheri (Joe) Graf of Lino Lake, Minnesota, Tim Raskie of Albia, and Stephanie (Fred) Trujillo of Des Moines; her brother, Charles (Bud) (Norma) Katich of Des Moines; grandchildren, Angela (Don Roberts) Raskie, Delaney (Jared) Engle, Brandon (Johanna) Grenko, Levi (Tyler Bubser) Grenko, Anthony (Alissa) Graf, Nick (Nicole) Graf, Leah (Jonathan Hoose) Raskie, Bryan (Jordan Johnston) Raskie; great grandchildren, Dalton Roberts, Shaun McCarthy, Damian Abbott, Jaismine Engle, Jordan Engle, Ava Grenko and Hadley Graf; great-great Grandchildren Urijah Engle, Emersyn Harrington, Bailey McCarthy and Stella McCarthy; and many cousins she was close to.
Carole was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed by all whose lives she has touched.
We will always carry her memory in our hearts.
Funeral services for Carole will be held at 10:00AM, Saturday, July 31, 2021 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Centerville with Father Bill Hubmann officiating. Per Caroles wishes, cremation will follow the service, and burial will take place at Dale Cemetery, north of Centerville at a later date. Visitation will take place Friday, July 30, 2021 at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville, with the family greeting friends from 6-8PM. Memorials have been established to St. Marys Catholic Church, Centerville, and may be mailed to Lange Funeral Home, C/O Carole Simmons Family, 1900 South 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.
Visitation
2021-07-30 18:00:00
20:00:00
Lange Funeral Home & Crematory
1900 South 18th St
Centerville
IA
52544
Funeral Mass
2021-07-31 10:00:00
St. Mary's Catholic Church
828 South 18th Street
Centerville
IA
52544
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