Carol Lynn Prets

Carol Lynn Prets passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah with family at her bedside. In doing so, she has “Let the Rest of the World Go By” (the title of one of her favorite songs) and now rests in eternal peace.

Carol was born on June 19th, 1936. She grew up on her grandparents’ dairy farm in Marathon City, Wisconsin with four uncles and two aunts who were being raised there.

At Marathon High School, she was a majorette and quite accomplished with a baton. In her junior year, she was involved in a fatality motorcycle accident which resulted in over a month of hospitalization and months of follow-up procedures. It was during this time that she became interested in becoming a nurse.

After High School graduation in 1954, she moved to Renton, Washington to live with her mother Dorothy, who had been a “Rosie the Riveter” at Boeing during WWII and continued to work there afterwards. Carol attended Seattle University for a year, then returned to Wisconsin to attend St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Wausau. She completed her nursing degree in 1958.

Shortly thereafter, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, she met her future husband Eduard Prets. He proposed to her on Thanksgiving Day in 1959. They married in June of the following year. Soon after their marriage, they moved to Bakersfield, California – but found it too hot. So, in less than a year, they relocated to Renton, Washington. They would be married for almost 62 years.

Between 1961 and 1971, Carol, who always wanted to have a big family, gave birth to six children. She played the role of “Mom” while working part time as a registered nurse, doing the shopping, preparing meals, getting everyone to church, managing the activity calendar and presiding over the family finances. All without a dedicated support staff.

She loved going out to polka and waltz with her husband Eddy and their circle of friends. She and Eddy traveled extensively – ocean cruises, European adventures, New York City, Napa Valley, visiting family in Wisconsin – they were happy anywhere and made friends wherever they went. She had fun flying kites on the beach, camping, going on Autumn drives, going to the mountains – but was equally happy entertaining at home. She could never have enough shoes and was always ready for a lobster tail dinner. She would never turn down a visit to a beer garden, enjoyed going to the theatre, and always liked dogs. Her ultimate simple pleasure during the last twenty-five years was playing Tripoley with five generations of family members.

She will be remembered best by her smile, unmistakable laugh and willingness to listen to anyone who wanted to share a problem. Her commitment to family – whether her own or those around her – was unwavering, as was her dedication to praying the Rosary. She had many friends, celebrated many golden moments and lived a life that overflowed with many happy memories.

She is predeceased by her mother Dorothy Poeske-Haber, father Leander Kirstein, and husband Eduard Prets, who passed away in March of 2022

She is survived by her brother John “Jack” Poeske (Sherry) and children Andrew, Suzanne, Lisa Bialek (Paul), John (Katrina), Angela Kieras (Dave) and James. She was blessed with eleven grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one step great-grandchild.

Had she written her own obituary, the conclusion would have started out with the title of another of her favorite songs – “Till We Meet Again”, and ended with her trademark closing – “Love and prayers, Carol”. That she will be missed goes without saying. She was the source of happiness to a great many people.

Her funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, March 20^th, 2025 at St. Anthony’s Church in Renton, Washington.