Carol Jean Kivi

Carol Jean Kivi (Wennersten), age 82, passed away on February 14th, 2026 surrounded by all of her children and many other loved ones. Carol was born in Ironwood, MI on April 20th, 1943 to Harry and Alice (Peterson) Wennersten. She graduated from Central Elementary School and Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood and continued on to receive an associate's degree in nursing from Fox Valley Technical College. Carol married Gary Kivi on December 15th, 1962, they were married 27 years. Carol worked as a nurse for 35 years in a variety of settings in both Appleton and Chippewa Falls, WI. She enjoyed reading, painting, ceramics, and probably most of all spending time with her children and grandchildren. She twice moved to help raise those grandchildren, once to Chippewa Falls for Annika and Autumn and again back to Appleton to live with Sebastian and Aubry. Carol had a lively sense of humor and was cracking jokes up until the week she passed. She was a passionate and long-time Green Bay Packer fan.

Carol will be greatly missed by her 4 children, Paul Kivi (Solway, MN), Michael Kivi (Christine, St. Charles, MN), Cheryl Kivi Lemanski (David, Lake Hallie, WI), and Laura Kivi (Solway, MN), and 10 grandchildren, Elyot Kivi (Bemidji, MN), Meredith Kivi (St. Charles, MN), Katya Liapis (Carson, Bemidji, MN), Samuel Kivi (Rochester, MN), Nikolai Kivi (Eveleth, MN), Isaac Kivi (LaCrosse, WI), Annika Lemanski (Eau Claire, WI), Autumn Lemanski (Eau Claire, WI), Sebastian Koskelin (Bemidji, MN) and Aubry Koskelin (Solway, MN), 1 great grandson, Ezra Liapis (Bemidji, MN) and other family and friends.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Reginald Proctor and David Wennersten, and her sisters Janet Trier, Nancy Luoma and Alice Rathburn, and her ex-husband Gary Kivi. The Kivi family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center for excellent care in the last years of Mom's life.

Carol's Memorial Service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI at 2pm on Saturday, March 7th, with a visitation at 1pm and a luncheon at 3pm at the same location. Carol's Lutheran faith was important to her and she found deep comfort in this, especially during difficult times. Carol has requested cremation and her urn will reside at the Highland Cemetery in Appleton, WI.

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