Carol Alcoe

Carol Lynn Alcoe, age 92 of Hayward, Wisconsin died on July 16, 2025 at Vitacare Assisted Living in Hayward. Carol was born on April 12, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois the daughter of the late William Edgar and Bernice Marie (Hansen) Vannerson. She attended Taft High School and Illinois State Normal College from which she graduated in 1955 with a teaching degree. She married B. James Alcoe on July 23, 1955 in Chicago. She taught 5th grade until the birth of her first son, Greg, in 1958. They lived in Des Plaines and Mount Prospect, IL until they moved permanently to their beloved home in Hayward in 1990.

Carol was not one to sit still. In Illinois, she was involved in her son's boyscouts, her daughter's girlscouts, and a teacher's aide at the Lincoln Jr. High. She was a multiple term President and is an honorary member of the Garden Club of Mount Prospect. She became an IL Master Gardener and took many courses at the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the Morton Arboretum in IL.

She was very active in the Hayward area and led various public and civic initiatives. She wrote columns for the Sawyer County Record to include the Spider Lake News, Hayward library, garden club, AARP, historical museum. Birkie volunteer, SC Historical Society docent, Cable Natural History Museum volunteer. As a Wisconsin Master Gardener who received an award for her hours of service, she used her knowledge to help with plantings around town, judge horticulture at county fairs, teach classes, and assist 4-H youth. As 'Granny's Greenhouse', she was a fixture at the St. Joe's flea market and enjoyed disseminating her knowledge to others. The beautiful plants at the Hayward library were under her care for many years. Carol was a founding member, and an honorary member, of the Hayward Area Garden Club and was a long-term President. She collected orchids with her husband as a hobby and enjoyed the greenhouse he built for her, filling it full of blooms.

She was a lifelong learner and was curious about the natural world around her. She participated in many conservation projects to include: shoreline habitat and wildflower restoration projects, Sigurd Olson Loon Ranger program, DNR secchi disk reader program, backyard bird counter, and countless other ecological and botanical endeavors.

Carol was a familiar face in her Town of Spider Lake community serving on several town boards and committees, attended fundraisers, and of course, planted flowers.

She is survived by her four children: Greg (Jeanette), Dave (Jody), Doug (Teddi), Elizabeth; 6 grandchildren: Jason Alcoe, Rebekka (John) Czarnecki, Ross and Thomas Metcalf, Ashley (Kyle) Demick, Bradley (Michelle) Alcoe; 3 great-grandchildren: Annabell and Charlotte Czarnecki, Everett Demick; several nieces and nephews, many dear friends, and one devoted fur baby Freddy.

Our family extends our most heartfelt gratitude to our new Vitacare family who so lovingly cared for our mom/gramma/aunt/friend, as well as us, every day. We will never forget you.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jim, her parents, sister Linda Borucki, brother William Vannerson and his wife Barbara.

A private family service will be held. Please direct memorials to the Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library in Hayward, WI.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.