Carolyn Marie Michalek

On Sunday, April 19, 2026, Carolyn Marie Michalek, maiden Kneupper, danced her way into heaven. Carolyn was born April 1, 1940 in San Antonio, Texas. She was a joyful, kind, and loving woman of faith whose favorite expression, “Hallelujah, Thank You, Lord!” reflected the gratitude and spirit in which she lived her life.

Carolyn was the cherished wife of Vernon Bernard Michalek for 65 years. She was a devoted and loyal mother to her children, Kenneth Wayne Michalek, and Norma Jean Michalek Oling; a wonderful mother-in-law to Kari Michalek and Ron Oling. She was an especially proud and doting grandmother to Camden and Dylan Michalek, Grant Oling, and Lane Oling Ruhland. Her grandchildren remember her playful greeting, “Give me some sugar,” shared with a joyful smile, big hugs, and lots of kisses.

Carolyn was affectionately known as “Butch”, a nickname given to her by her daddy that stayed with her throughout her life. It was sweetly adapted to “Butchie” by her cousins, Adrienne Wille King and Mavonne “Chuckie” Wille Keisling and close family whom she loved dearly. It was later adopted by Vernon, drawn out as “Buuuuuuuuutch!!!” when he wanted her attention.

Carolyn shared a close bond with Vernon’s siblings and their spouses, Gene and Lorraine Michalek and Marcella and Leonard Sauter with whom they shared many travel adventures. She also adored her many nieces and nephews.

Carolyn attended Providence High School, an all-girls Catholic school in San Antonio. In her youth, she loved roller skating and dancing and was actively involved in the Order of the Sons of Hermann, a German cultural and insurance fraternity. Carolyn met Vernon at a dance at The Hermann Sons Ballroom in San Antonio when she was just 16. Their first date was in October of 1957 when Carolyn was crowned Hermann Sons Carnival Queen. Vernon and Carolyn married on April 4, 1959, just three days after she turned 19.

On the way home from their Corpus Christi honeymoon, Vernon stopped at Joske’s Department Store to buy Carolyn a wedding gift, a Betty Crocker cookbook. From that beginning, Carolyn became a wonderful cook and homemaker, mastering many recipes and creating lasting family traditions. Her children fondly remember her cheese enchiladas. The green au gratin dishes she baked them in are family treasures. Carolyn was also an exceptional baker known for poppy seed pound cake and holiday pumpkin rolls.

A special place in Carolyn’s heart was the family’s property on Lake LBJ, originally purchased by her daddy shortly before she married Vernon. Carolyn and Vernon spent decades there as weekenders, building a beautiful community of friends and a cherished gathering place for family. They attended Saturday evening Mass at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Sunrise Beach. Carolyn was an active member of the Sunrise Beach VFD Ladies Auxiliary and together they enjoyed community traditions such as potlucks, the VFD Memorial Day BBQ, and summer ice cream socials where she and Vernon often brought homemade ice cream and one of Carolyn’s famous pound cakes for the cake walk.

Carolyn worked for many years at USAA to help support her family. She later took early retirement and enjoyed many active years as a member of their retiree group, the Golden Eagle Club.

In her later years, Carolyn faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the illness gradually took her voice and mobility, it never diminished the love she gave or the impact she made on those around her. Her family chooses to remember her in her vibrant days as a joyful and faithful woman, a deeply cherished mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, and friend. Her legacy of love and warmth will live on in all who knew her.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her husband Vernon; her siblings, Alvin Kneupper and Jeannine Meed; and her parents, Norma Bernice and Alvin Andrew Kneupper.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following charities on Carolyn’s behalf: USAA Golden Eagle Club Scholarship Fund at https://www.goldeneagle.club/donate or Casa de Padres in San Antonio at https://casadepadres.org/give.

We will gather to celebrate the lives of both Carolyn and her beloved Vernon who passed on June 8, 2024 (Vernon’s obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-antonio-tx/vernon-michalek-12181431). A rosary will be held Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 7PM at Porter Loring North at 2102 N Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, TX. A funeral service will be held Friday, June 5, 2026, at 10AM at the Mausoleum Chapel at Holy Cross Cemetery at 17501 Nacogdoches, San Antonio, TX followed by internment. The family will host a luncheon to celebrate Vernon and Carolyn after the services at Alamo Café on San Pedro. Please RSVP to Ken, Kari, or Norma by May 24 to help us plan the lunch.