Carolgene Wise Veeneman

Carolgene was born on April 1, 1945, to J. Pryor and Carrie Miller Wise in Louisville, KY. After graduating from Waggoner High School in 1963, she went on to graduate summa cum laude, B.S. in Psychology from the University of Louisville. She moved to New York City to attend Tobé–Coburn School for Fashion and pursued a career as a buyer at Burdines, LS Ayers and Gus Meyer.

She married Thomas Veeneman July 9, 1968, and raised three girls, Tiffany Barry (Raleigh, NC), Tristan Skager (Raleigh, NC) and Brittany Klinker (Johnson City. TN) in Cherokee Gardens. Carolgene is the proud grandmother to eight: Andrew and Austin (Denham), Alex and Caroline (Klinker), Victoria and Bretton (Barry), Isabelle and Madeleine (Skager).

Carolgene was a member of the Junior League of Louisville, Louisville Country Club and a former University of Louisville cheerleader, fashion model and ballet dancer. She moved to Raleigh in 2020 where she spent time with her grandchildren and continued her love of gardening.

Carolgene was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Thomas Dale Veeneman. She is survived by her brother, Dr. William Curtis Wise of Charleston, SC.

There will be a private interment at Cave Hill Cemetery on December 19.

Memorials can be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.