Carolyn Rebholz

Carolyn Rebholz, 79, of The Villages, Florida, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. 

Carolyn was born in Valley City, North Dakota, to Albert and Bernice (Larson) Berge. Carolyn received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Valley City State in North Dakota and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Wisconsin, with post-graduate work in psychology from the University of Minnesota and Indiana University. 

She was a high school English teacher at Edina High School for the majority of her 30-year working career, followed by serving as a school counselor. She inspired many students including one student who wrote a book titled, “Eating LIFE Cereal with a bigger spoon than most,” for which she wrote the introduction. Her experience also fostered her ability to utilize many of her skills in counseling young adults in the Federal Witness Protection Program.

After retirement, she and her husband moved from Minnesota to Florida in 2008. She was a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for over five years, helping improve the welfare of vulnerable children in Florida. She also successfully authored a novel, “Fractured Memories: A story of tolerance, integrity, and talents,” after years of genealogical research into her family history.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Edward. She is survived by her brother, Don (Terry) Berge; sister, JoAnne (Jim) Wigtil; nieces, Krista (Zachary) Gens and Julie Wigtil; and nephews, Layne (Karley) Berge and Jon (Heidi) Wigtil.

A memorial gathering is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. at Beyers Funeral Home in Lady Lake, Florida. Interment will be alongside her husband at the Florida National Cemetery.