Carol Esau

Carol Arlene Esau was born December 30, 1926 in Brinsmade, North Dakota, the fifth of nine children of George and Elsie Gerig Herman. She passed away in Mountain Lake, Minnesota on July 20, 2015 at the age of 88. Her childhood was filled with the wonders of growing up on a large North Dakota farm. She admitted to being a bit of a tomboy, but would quickly add that she liked to be feminine and look pretty as well. After graduation from Minnewauken High School she attended St. Paul Bible Institute in St. Paul. It was while there that she met Gilbert Esau after he returned from World War II. They were married in 1947 and moved to Gil's hometown, Mountain Lake, where they lived the remainder of their lives. She was a homemaker and so much more. She handled finances for her husband's business, The Westside Body Shop. She also was a campaign teammate when Gilbert ran for elective office serving both the city of Mountain Lake as councilman and mayor and the State of Minnesota as a legislator. But her best work was the hard work of caring for and raising five children whom she loved deeply. The parental responsibilities often fell to her alone when Gilbert was in St. Paul for legislative sessions. She found time for hobbies, including ceramics, embroidery, sewing and gardening. She loved to enter her artistry at the County Fair and usually brought home blue ribbons. Music was a big part of Carol's life, especially in church where she often sang and in earlier years played organ. She professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior as a teenager and followed the Lord in baptism soon thereafter. She became a member of the Alliance Missionary Church shortly after marriage and made that her home church for life. She looked back on her life with a grateful heart for her heritage, the family work ethic, and her faith. She was so proud of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her last fifteen months were difficult. Strokes left her paralyzed and unable to communicate freely. But she received this new reality with peace and endurance and continued to enjoy visits from her family and friends. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gilbert, and two sisters Delores Bargen and Phyllis Ellingson. She is survived by five children: Dianne Porter (Rick) of Spirit Lake, Iowa; DeVon Esau (Sheryl) of St. Peter; Terry Esau (Mary) of Long Lake; and Tammy Engstrom (John) and Brenda Harder (Phil), both of Mountain Lake. She had 16 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Mountain Lake Christian School and to the Okoboji Bible Conference (okobojiconference.org). Visitation 1 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday, July 22, 2015 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Visitation 2 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Thursday, July 23, 2015 Alliance Missionary Church-Mt Lake 809 - 5th Avenue Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 1:00 pm Thursday, July 23, 2015 Alliance Missionary Church-Mt Lake 809 - 5th Avenue Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information Mountain Lake City Cemetery 10th St. N at Midway Rd Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159