Carol Joyce Nyberg

August 31, 1946 - July 3, 2025

Carol Joyce Nyberg, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was 78 years old.

Born on August 31, 1946, in Mount Pulaski, Illinois, Carol was the daughter of Wilford and Isabel Schaffenacker. She grew up on a farm with her siblings Nancy (Rieman) Schaffenacker and Dale Schaffenacker, developing the strong work ethic and warm heart that would define her throughout her life.

Carol graduated from Mount Pulaski High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Eastern Illinois University in 1968. During college, she was an active member of Sigma Kappa sorority and served as treasurer of Phi Beta Lambda. Upon graduation, she began her career as a business education teacher at Morrison Community High School, teaching shorthand and typing.

Her adventurous spirit led her to become a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines, based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was during one of these flights that she met the love of her life, Colonel James (Jim) E. Nyberg, who was traveling on military business. They married in 1970, welcomed children Scott and Stephanie, and shared more than 50 years of marriage before Jim preceded her in death four years ago.

As a devoted military wife, Carol embraced the nomadic life, moving with Jim and their family to Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Hawaii, Indiana, and Virginia during his Army career. They eventually settled in Fairfax, Virginia, where Carol spent most of her adult life before relocating to Denver in 2012 to be closer to family.

Throughout her life, Carol dedicated herself to meaningful work, including administrative roles with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Fairfax County Department of Finance—positions she treasured. She was deeply involved at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Virginia, where she coordinated weddings for countless couples and was a faithful member of weekly Bible study.

Carol was a woman of many passions. She loved scrapbooking, capturing precious family memories, and was an avid movie enthusiast who enjoyed going to the theater and watching films at home. She also enjoyed shopping and playing games on her computer. Her greatest joy, however, came from her family, especially her five grandchildren.

A true fighter, Carol courageously battled and defeated cancer twice and faced numerous medical challenges with unwavering strength and grace. Even in her final years at her assisted living facility, she looked forward to her cherished Sunday tradition of lunch with the Rolf family—moments that brought her immense happiness.

Carol was also a devoted dog lover throughout her life, sharing her home with beloved companions Heidi in the eighties and Katie in the nineties.

Carol is survived by her two children: Scott (Lori) Nyberg and Stephanie (Dan) Rolf; her brother Dale (Molly) Schaffenacker; and five adoring grandchildren: Kate, Addison and Reagan Rolf and Autumn and Natalie Nyberg. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jim Nyberg, her parents Wilford and Isabel Schaffenacker, and her sister Nancy Rieman.

Carol's legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched through her kindness, her unwavering faith, her dedication to family, and her ability to find joy in life's simple pleasures. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.

Carol’s Celebration of Life will be held at Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial, CO on Sat., August 2nd at 10:00am with a visitation with her family from 9-10am.