Carolyn Harberts

Carolyn G. Harberts, 87, of Grundy Center, passed away on Friday, September 21, 2018, at the Grundy Care Center in Grundy Center, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. A memorial service for Carolyn will be held on Saturday, September 29th at 10:00 AM at the Colfax Center Presbyterian Church in rural Holland, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Carolyn had made the selfless decision to deed her body to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in Iowa City.  A private inurnment will be held at a later date at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be directed to the family, where they will donate to a charity of their choice at a later date and messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Carolyn was born on October 17, 1930 in rural Grundy County, Iowa, to her parents Fred D. & Lena (Casjens) Harberts. She grew up in Grundy Center, where she attended school, graduating from Grundy Center High School in the class of 1948. After high school, Carolyn attended Pitzie’s School of Beauty where she earned her degree as a Beautician. She owned and operated the Charm Beauty Shop for many years in Grundy Center, and later worked as a beautician in Allerton & Dubuque, IA and Albany, Missouri. At one point, she worked in a local hospital in Roswell, New Mexico.  She ended up settling in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she worked for JC Penney, Best Rollers Manufacturers and The Holiday Inn. She later made her way back home to Grundy Center. In 2017, Carolyn moved to the Grundy Care Center, where she remained until her passing.

She was a lifelong member of the Colfax Center Church and was able to share her love of music by singing in the church choir and in a church quartet and trio. She was a devoted member of the Sweet Adeline’s during her time in Wisconsin. Carolyn committed herself to serving Christs’ mission wherever she resided.

Carolyn was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She absolutely loved traveling and even in her later years when her health was declining, she was still able to take short trips and enjoyed her friends across Iowa and Wisconsin.

She is survived by her brother Alfred Harberts of Grundy Center; sisters-in-law Janet Harberts of Grundy Center and Merelyn Harberts of Hudson, IA; many cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews; her godson Keven Kreie of California. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Dick (Enola) Harberts, Russell Harberts, Charles Harberts, Floyd Harberts, Cora (Arthur) Slifer, Ruth (Harry) Ascher, Isabelle (Harold) Eiklenborg and Delia (Samuel) Rust; sister-in-law Wanda Ratte.