Carol A. Carlburg

Carol Ann (Shriver) Carlburg, age 91, was finally granted her wish to worship Jesus face to face when she left this earth on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to be with her Lord. Carol was preceded in death by her parents Victor and Alma Shriver and three siblings Victor Jr., Gene, and Joyce. Her surviving family includes her husband, Herbert; children David (Deb) Carlburg, Debbie (Bob) Knepp, and Donna (Dave) Harper; 8 grandchildren and their spouses; and 13 great-grandchildren, with another due in December; 5 nieces and nephews and their families in the Ursa, IL area. 

Carol was born to Victor and Alma Shriver, the third of four children, on May 1, 1935. She grew up in Ursa, Illinois, and attended school through 8th grade in a 3-room schoolhouse built on land her father donated for that purpose. Carol graduated from Quincy (IL) Senior High School in 1953, and from Wheaton College in 1957. 

Carol’s life was filled with music, defined by a heart for missions and hospitality, and lived with discipline, generosity, and integrity. Those defining characteristics can be traced back to the farmstead in Ursa, Illinois, where she first lived. Even in her last days, Carol expressed gratitude for her upbringing, noting, “I was a farm girl, and I loved it!” While other girls her age were typically found helping with indoor chores, Carol preferred outdoor tasks. Caring for animals, gathering eggs, and working with the soil were her preferred activities. She found great joy in observing all things grow - plants, projects, and people - even two-year-olds! 

Carol’s childhood family could be found at the Ursa Reformed Church on Sunday mornings. Carol later recounted listening to the radio broadcasts of nearby Quincy’s Central Baptist Church and began attending the Sunday evening services there, as well. Little did she know the trajectory of her life would be cast as a result of one of those Sunday evening services. 

Carol’s early life centered on her family’s farm life. After completing high school, she continued working with her family on the farm. All that changed when a choir from Wheaton College presented a concert at Central Baptist one Sunday evening. Carol’s love of music and the impression the students left on her made her wonder if college could be in her future. It would take some time to secure her parents’ approval to leave the farm for college. By then, she was making a late application for the fall 1954 class. Her acceptance from Wheaton College came with a caveat: Wheaton’s freshman class was full for the fall of 1954. Carol could attend the 1954 summer school classes and be granted higher priority for a possible opening in the fall. 

The summer of 1954 at Wheaton shaped Carol’s future in many ways. She met a lifelong friend, Joyce, who quickly invited Carol to join her and a group of friends for a Bible study and ministry on Sunday evenings in urban Chicago. Her future husband was part of that group! This cultivated her interest in missions and outreach work, which would continue the rest of her life. It was also at this time that she was invited to join the College Church choir. Not only did she join, but she and Herb would sing with that choir for the next 60 years.

After summer school, Carol returned to the farm. Several weeks into the 1954 fall term, Carol was notified that she could start the term late - if she wanted. She jumped at the opportunity. Despite starting college several weeks into the term, she made the most of it. She found time for studies, singing, service, and socializing. It was at this time that Herb began pursuing Carol, even though he knew he would be leaving in a few months to join the Navy. Once he left for the service in January of 1955, their courtship continued through daily written letters to each other. However, no one other than Carol and Herb will ever know what those letters said. As part of their 1st wedding anniversary celebration, those letters were burned in a bonfire on the farm in Ursa, IL. 

On the morning of June 10, 1957, Carol fulfilled a promise she made to her father by graduating from college before getting married. Three years and three summer sessions after she began her collegiate journey, Carol earned her degree from Wheaton. Later that very same day, Carol and Herb were married in a garden ceremony. After the ceremony, the newlyweds drove their VW Bug to Key West, FL, where Herb was stationed in the Navy. In the fall of 1957, Carol could be found teaching physical education at a local school. Their first child, David, was born 10 months later. Later in 1958, when Herbert’s enlistment was over, the family left Florida and returned to Wheaton. 

Their second child, Debbie, arrived in 1959, and Carol stayed home to raise her family, but took on side work of ironing and typing. Their third and final child, Donna, arrived in 1962. Once all the children were in school, Carol worked part-time outside the home. It was at this time that her eco-minded love of the land and heart for missions caused her to lead her young family in a unique form of civic engagement. It was the late 1960’s, and the early days of recycling. The family had already begun newspaper delivery routes, so Carol’s idea was to collect and recycle those newspapers. With Carol at the wheel of a VW Bus, the newspapers were collected and exchanged for cash at the recycling center. Carol used those earnings to teach her kids about giving generously to mission and ministry organizations. Long after the kids had stopped delivering papers, she continued this practice into the 1990s. 

Carol used this same model as she began preparing food for various events. One friend’s request led to others, and soon she was cooking for weddings, teen musicals, funerals, older adults, conferences, and any other ministry opportunity that came her way. Her menus were simple, cost-conscious, and tasty, earning positive reviews. Donations for her services were set aside for mission organizations. The entire family joined Carol for years as she provided a monthly Friday night meal for what would become the STARS ministry at College Church. 

Another long-lasting ministry began in the mid 1970’s. One act of inclusion and hospitality led to a weekly tradition that lasted decades. An invitation was extended to her kids' Bible and science teachers. Both were single men and members of the church choir. They began to regularly join the family for dinner before choir rehearsal. This evolved into “Thursday Night Dinners,” where singles gathered at the Carlburg home for a meal. Over the years, others who desired fellowship and a warm meal were welcomed to the table. For the next 40 years, with few interruptions, those gatherings took place, with the last meal being served in May of 2016.

When most people would label two-year-olds as “the terrible twos”, Carol was quick to say that two-year-olds were her favorite age group. She cherished the many years she cared for children of that age group in Kids Corner while their mothers attended Bible Study. Her philosophy was that little ones can comprehend much more than we give them credit for. She spoke God’s truth to them and challenged them to make wise choices, even at their young age. Over the years, many of these moms and their grown children have thanked Carol for the godly influence she brought into their lives during that time. 

As Carol entered the later years of her life, her mobility began to slow down, and so too did many of her previous activities. While that saddened her, she maintained a positive attitude despite constant physical pain. She maintained her beautiful gardens, and the rhubarb she cultivated continues to be enjoyed by many to this day. Listening to the Chicago Cubs games on the radio kept her company. Most evenings, she could be found completing that day’s Bible readings, which resulted in reading through the Bible each year. She also devoted time to completing puzzles, and friends and family members generously blessed her with the gift of unique and challenging puzzles. 

It was also during this time of limited mobility that she devoted significant amounts of time to following different ministries and missionaries, praying for their specific needs. Carol and Herb were faithful attenders of the long-standing weekly Wednesday night prayer meetings at College Church. In 2020, those prayer times were changed to Zoom meetings on Wednesday at noon. Their commitment to this group extended until the last weeks of Carol’s life. Although it became increasingly difficult to attend College Church worship services in person, the fellowship remained a highlight of her week. She appreciated all who greeted her and spent time talking with her and Herb. She was disappointed when she realized she had attended her last in-person service. 

For many years, Carol has longed to be released and freed from this dimly lit earthly life. We rejoice that her prayer has been fulfilled. Her body may be buried in Ursa, IL, on the farmland she dearly loved, but her gaze is now fully and clearly transfixed upon her Savior, Jesus. Psalm 16:11 and Psalm 17:15 state it well: “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” 

A private family burial will take place in Ursa, IL. A time to visit with Carol’s family will take place in the Commons at College Church, Wheaton, IL on Monday, September 21, between 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. A worship service in honor of Carol’s love for Jesus will be held at College Church, Wheaton, IL on Tuesday, September 22, at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon reception will follow the service. 

Memorial gifts can be given to the missions fund at College Church.