Carole J. Pederson

Carole Jeanne (Wiersum) Pederson, 85, of Sheboygan Falls passed into the heavenly realm of eternal splendor with her Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, on October 31, 2025 at Sheboygan Health Services.

She was born in Kenosha on October 11, 1940. She graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha with the Class of 1958. She earned a bachelor’s of science degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1965.

Carole held her chosen field of education in the highest possible regard throughout her life. She was employed as a third-grade teacher at Beaver Dam Elementary School before moving to Sheboygan to work as a third-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School. After raising her two children, she returned to the education field as a substitute teacher at Sheboygan Falls Elementary School and Sheboygan Falls Middle School. She also taught a Conway diet class in the Sheboygan area, volunteered as a Project Aware instructor in the Sheboygan Falls School District and led Sunday classes at First United Lutheran Church in Sheboygan for 14 years.

On June 25, 1966, Carole married Thomas R. Pederson in Kenosha. The couple initially lived in Beaver Dam before transitioning to Sheboygan and later making Sheboygan Falls their home.

Carole is survived by her husband of 59 years, Thomas R. Pederson; son Jeffrey (Jennifer) Pederson of Manitowoc; daughter Susan (Rey) Santana of Sheboygan; and her granddaughters Alicia, Elizabeth and Julia Santana of Sheboygan and grandsons Aaron and Fredrick Pederson of Manitowoc. She is further survived by her sister Joan (John) of Indiana as well as her nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Julia Wiersum; half-sister Beatrice Johannes, half-brother Maynerd Wiersum, brother Melvin Wiersum and brother Russell Wiersum.

Carole enjoyed reading, watching her many favorite television shows and sports (especially the Green Bay Packers), water aerobics class at the Sports Core in Kohler, camping and traveling with her beloved family, whom she devoted her life to caring for and cherishing completely.

A Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Zimmer Westview Funeral and Cremation Care Center, W2132 Garton Rd in Howards Grove with Pastor Heidi Borkenhagen of First United Lutheran Church in Sheboygan officiating. The family will greet visitors at the funeral home on Saturday from 2:00 PM until the time of the service. She will be laid to rest in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Kohler.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Research or Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) in Carole’s name.