Carol Jean "CJ" Wenninger née Carlson was born on January 23, 1932 in the Tibetan village of Denga. She arrived 4 days before the doctor who was to attend her birth!  Born at home, she also died peacefully at home at age 93.

CJ was the fourth child of Edwin and Carol Carlson, who served with the Christian and Missionary Alliance on the Chinese and Tibetan border. But only her big brother Bob remained to greet her since the first two children had been lost- one to smallpox and one to scarlet fever.

Bob and CJ grew up in northwest China. They were homeschooled by their mom until 1943, when they attended Woodstock boarding school in India. In 1944, their parents joined them in India to set off for the United States by ship.  Bob and CJ lived in the family home, while their parents returned to China.

After graduating from Wheaton High School in 1951, Carol attended Wheaton College. She married Richard "Dick" Jones in 1955.  Carol graduated from Wheaton College in 1957. Dick and Carol had four children Richard "Chip", Gwyneth, Peter and Rebecca "Becky". As a young family they spent time in California, Ecuador and finally Panama to work at radio station, HOXO. In 1966 Dick Jones died from a car crash.

Continuing to work in Panama, a young widow with four children caught the eye of Dr. Robert "Bob" Wenninger, and on June 7, 1967, they married.  Bob and Carol lived at Fort Benning, Georgia until his deployment to Vietnam during 1968 to 1969.  In August 1970, the family, now including six-week-old Debbie, moved to Mukinge Mission Hospital in Kasempa, Zambia. There Bob would serve as a surgeon and hospital administrator for the next 32 years. Carol played many roles, adapting to what the hospital needed.

Her skill with numbers soon landed her the responsibility of hospital accountant Remarkably, she hand-counted a cash payroll for the staff of the 200-bed hospital for years!  She also taught math to student nurses, supervised the hospital kitchen one year and led Bible studies. Carol drove the family vehicle to pick up pregnant women delivering roadside.  She drove it as the hearse for funerals.  She navigated snakes, butchering and cooking wild game and was known for her sweet and sour warthog. She was beloved for her gracious way and kind acts.

In 2003, the Wenningers retired and moved to Rhode Island to care for Bob's mom until her death at age 99. Then, in 2011, they returned to Wheaton- close to family and friends, allowing Carol to spend happy years in the company of her "big brother" after decades of separation.

Carol is survived by her husband of nearly 58 years, Bob; her children Gwyneth, Peter (Cindy), Becky (Bob), Deb (Tricia); her grandchildren Wesley (Steven), Carol "CJ", Sarah, Daniel, Hannah (Zied), Ben (Hannah), Joe (Michael), Annie, Bobby (J) and Catherine (Nate); her 21 great-grandchildren; as well as her brother's children Bobbi (Steve), Eric (Lorraine), Ted (Cindy) and Carrie. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Jones; her sons Richard "Chip" and David; her grandson William; and her siblings Gwen and Edwin and Robert (Peg) Carlson.

She was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, and her sweet, quiet way will be missed here. As one of her grandchildren put it, "She was quite a lady.Quiet in a way that stood out when her family tended to be loud … She was epic and the kindest soul.  There's not enough time in the world to cherish those we love – the hope of Heaven is what carries my heart."

A memorial service will be held in the College Church Sanctuary, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187 on 23 August 1pm. To watch the memorial service through livestream please click here . A private burial will be held at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Mukinge Hospital through SIM International account # 94645

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.