Carolyn Anna Kothmann

Carolyn Anna Volkmann was born during a blizzard on January 10, 1933, just west of Kokomo, Indiana, at her maternal grandparents' farm while her parents were there visiting for the Christmas holidays. She was greeted by her older sister, LaVerne, and loved by her parents, Fritz and Valeria Hartman Volkmann. She was baptized at the family church outside of Kokomo on January 29, 1933. Carolyn grew up on the family ranch just east of Menard, Texas, and welcomed a baby sister, Janelle, to the family. As a young girl, she helped her father on the ranch working stock and mixing feed and helped her mother by tending the garden. She traveled with her family to visit her grandparents in Indiana each year for Christmas or summer vacation. The cousins would often take lemonade to the field workers, driving a horse and buggy. On one occasion when she was allowed to drive, Carolyn turned the buggy over and never asked to drive it again. Carolyn attended Menard schools, playing the flute and marching as a twirler in the Menard High School Band. She was a member of the track team that won the Bluebonnet Relays in San Angelo in 1948. Carolyn married her high school sweetheart, O. C. Kothmann, on September 12, 1948, and had two sons: Stanley (Rocky), September 2, 1949, and Benny, September 25, 1950. On July 19, 1957, Carolyn married the love of her life, Carl Kothmann. They honeymooned at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming and visited Carl's sister, Gail, and her husband, Pehr Anderson, in Montana. A daughter, Dora, was born on October 24, 1958. Carolyn raised her children in Menard and was very active in their school, sports events, and 4-H activities. She was confirmed as a member of Grace Lutheran Church on May 25, 1947 and was the treasurer for many years, a job she inherited from her father. She was the ultimate rancher's wife and bookkeeper. As her children got married and grandchildren were born, she loved each addition to the family. She was always quick to tell a story, provide a favorite food, and forgive the faults of her grandchildren. As a most thoughtful hostess, she loved cooking for her family and could put a great meal together. Her family was extremely important to her. She devoted herself to helping care for her mother in her mother's final years. Carolyn passed away from her earthly life to be joined with her Savior in Heaven on January 6, 2015, just four days before her 82nd birthday. Family visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, January 9, 2014 from 5p.m. until 7 p.m. Funeral services for her will be held on her birthday, Saturday, January 10, 2015, at Grace Lutheran Church with burial at Rest Haven Cemetery in Menard, Texas. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Valeria Volkmann, a sister-in-law, Jane Kothmann Malory, and brother-in-law, Pehr Anderson. Carolyn is survived by her husband, Carl, of Menard, her children Rocky and Margaret Kothmann of Kerrville, and Benny and Cordelia Kothmann and Dora and Jim Wright, all of Menard. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Kimberly Kothmann and Dallas Orr of Fort Worth; Conrad, Becky, Carson, and Brooks Kothmann of Bandera; Valera, Brandon, Cade, and Claire Corbin of Wylie; and Curtis, Dandy and Wesley Kothmann, Aaron Kothmann, Kathy, Paul, Roy, and Daphne Mews, and Willy, Jessica, Makenzie, and Kallan Wright, all of Menard. She will be greatly missed by her sisters, Janelle Yates of Menard and Laverne and husband Awbrey Kothmann of London, her sister-in-law Gail Anderson Leadbetter of Scottsdale, Arizona, her brother-in-law Lou Malory of Lake Arrowhead, California, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions in Carolyn's memory would be greatly appreciated and can be made to a charity of your choice.