Carol Ann Learned

Born August 8, 1937 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Howard and Mildred (Mueller) Schildt, she married Donald E. Learned on October 15, 1960 in Milwaukee. He survives.

Also surviving are four children, Pam Kemp, Dan (Carol) Learned, Cindy (Steve) Barton, all of Washington and Dave (Diane) Learned of Sleepy Hollow; thirteen grandchildren, Emily Kemp, Andrew Kemp, Brandon Kemp, Amy (Josh) Frederick, Wes (Janelle) Learned, Jessica (Grant) Schricker, Ben (Natalie Bardwell) Learned, Chris Barton, Sam Barton, Hannah Learned, Annika Learned, Malea Learned and Sophia Learned; four great-grandchildren, Titus, Zeke, and Eloise Frederick and Jack Learned; one sister, Gerry (Ken) Connor of Mukwonago, Wisconsin and one brother, Dave (Doreen) Schildt of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Carol was looking forward to Ben & Natalie's wedding in May and the birth of her 5th great-grandchild in June.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son-in-law, Pat Kemp.

Carol grew up in Milwaukee, attending Bayview High School and Wisconsin Tabernacle Church where she met Don and lifelong friend Ruth (Bill) Corbin, before moving to Central Illinois in 1963. She fully embraced life in Washington, raising her four children there, enjoying gardening, quilting, crafting, Coffee Club at Hardee's, swimming at Five Points and attending her 13 grandchildren's band, choir, sporting events, & Grandparent Days whenever possible.

Carol had a strong personal faith in her Savior Jesus Christ. Because of God’s Word, she knew she was loved by God and had received forgiveness for her own sins through the sacrifice of Jesus on her behalf. Her faith compelled her to consistently love and serve others selflessly and sacrificially as Jesus did. She invested her life showing and telling of Jesus’ love and was always quick to visit family, friends, and neighbors with a garden flower bouquet, a card, or a plate of food. She wrote thousands of letters of encouragement and constantly served others with a listening ear, a loving touch, and a wise word.

A big highlight of Carol’s life was the 15 years she and Don welcomed grandchildren, friends, and extended family to their lake house at Oak Run, delighting in boating, eating, and lots of water fun.

She was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, where she was a CE (youth group) Leader for 17 years, served in the nursery, sang in Grace Family Christmas and in the GospelFest concerts at Five Points. Carol formerly led Grace Women’s Fellowship, served as a Sunday school teacher, a Vacation Bible School leader, a Pioneer Girl leader, and she loved the church-ladies lunch group. She volunteered with Youth for Christ for decades, led a Women’s Bible Study at Snyder Village and seldom missed Christian Women’s Club back in the day. Carol loved her many “girlfriends” and was fiercely loyal to them. In 2015, Carol was recognized as Rescuer of the Year by Peoria Rescue Ministries for her volunteer work at the Women’s Pregnancy Center.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Bethany Community Church, 27265 Dutch Lane in Washington. The service will be streamed at www.youtube.com/bethanycommunity and Pastor Dave Learned, her son, will officiate. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the church. Inurnment will follow the service at Glendale Cemetery in Washington. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorials may be made to Youth for Christ, 4100 North Brandywine Drive, Peoria, Illinois 61614 or to Peoria Rescue Ministries, P.O. Box 837, Peoria, Illinois 61652.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com