Wilma ‘Carol’ Grau

Wilma ‘Carol’ Grau

1935 – 2023

LAWTON - Wilma “Carol” Schmidt Grau, 88, of Lawton, Iowa, passed away Dec. 4, 2023 at Sunrise Retirement Home. A funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Lawton, Iowa.  Visitation is Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the church. Burial is at Banner Township Cemetery in Lawton. Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City is handling the arrangements.

Wilma Carol (Schmidt) Grau was born May 10, 1935 to August and Lydia (Hennig) Schmidt at their home in rural Ida Grove. Carol was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran in Grant Township. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1953 where she played basketball and played flute in the school band. She attended Iowa State Teacher’s College where she earned her elementary teaching certification and continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree from Morningside College. Carol’s teaching career brought her to Bode, Estherville, Manning and Ida Grove where she stopped teaching in 1971.

While teaching in Manning, she married Irwin Grau on Jan. 22, 1961 at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. They then moved to Ida Grove and began their farming operation where they raised grain and livestock. They were blessed with two sons Daniel and Scott. She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School and Catechism. 

Irwin and Carol retired from farming in 1993. After retiring, they traveled to Irwin’s ship reunions and attended numerous toy auctions. When they were not traveling Carol enjoyed reading and visiting friends and family. Eventually, they relocated to Lawton, Iowa, to be closer to their grandchildren and became members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Lawton. Her final years were spent residing at Sunrise Retirement Community. 

She is survived by her sons Daniel (Rose) Grau of Lawton, Scott Grau of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Two grandchildren Kristi (Eric) Loofe and Michael (Elizabeth) Grau, and five great-grandchildren, Mason and Quinn Loofe, Scarlett, Julianne and Eleanor Grau.

Carol was proceeded in death by her husband of 56 years, Irwin, and her parents. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family where the monies will be distributed in Carol’s memory to Sunrise Retirement Community, St. Croix Hospice and Lawton Fire and Ambulance.

Services: Dec. 8, Bethel Lutheran Church, Lawton, Iowa

Burial: Banner Township Cemetery, Lawton, Iowa

Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City • Sioux City • 712-276-7100