Carole Lynne (Zemlicka) Kraemer

Carole Lynne Zemlicka Kraemer, 89, of Bonita Springs, FL and Egg Harbor, WI, passed away Saturday night, July 6, 2024 at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay, WI.

She was born on December 31, 1934 in Milwaukee, WI, to Earl George Zemlicka and Judith Dorothy (Lindgren) Zemlicka. Carole grew up and attended schools in Shorewood, WI, graduating from Shorewood High School in June of 1953. Countless family celebrations and lifelong friendships were formed while living in Shorewood.

After graduating from high school, Carole worked for American Express as a travel agent, and as part of her job, traveled to Europe, Bermuda, Hawaii, and the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. This was at a time when such travel was unique. Subsequent to her employment at American Express, for many years, Carole worked for Gimbels (department store) in Milwaukee as their special events coordinator.

In her twenties, Carole developed a love of skiing and sailing and made many friends while enjoying both activities. As a member of the Milwaukee Yacht Club, she was active in Adams Cup activities. It is through these activities in the 1960s that she met her husband, George Philip Kraemer II. They were married at North Shore Presbyterian Church, the church she grew up in, on February 26, 1966.

Carole and George settled in Shorewood, WI and lived there until the 1990s when they moved just a little north to Bayside, WI. Throughout all of these years, holidays and special activities were always an important part of Carole‘s life. Whether it was Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Fourth of July, or in later years, the annual family croquet tournament, Carole planned and organized these celebrations for her extended family, including nieces and nephews, as a special part of her life. She was known for her pineapple pudding and crab bisque.

While living in Shorewood and Bayside, Carole started her own public relations firm, then subsequently became Vice President and Manager of Human Resources at Kracor, Inc., a business George owned. Throughout all of these years, Carole volunteered for many non-profit organizations, including TEMPO, an organization supporting women who owned businesses, The Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, where she served a term as President, and other non-profits for the deaf and senior citizens.

Carole enjoyed sports of all types, especially Wisconsin and Green Bay Packers football. She also liked to stay active - biking, sailing, and skiing. She and George were active members of the Heiliger Huegel Ski club for years. Carole was an instructor at Heiliger Huegel as well as two other commercial ski areas.

Sailing was always an important part of Carole and George’s life. For many years, they kept a 36-foot sailboat in the Bahamas for winter sailing and a 24-foot sailboat in Milwaukee for summer racing. In 1981, the 24-foot boat was voted the Boat of the Year for the entire bay of Milwaukee. The 36-foot boat was eventually moved to Door County.

For the last 20 plus years, Carole and George have called Door County home for part of the year, while spending the rest of the year in Florida. However, they did not fully retire until they were in their 80s.

During her time in Door County, Carole was a volunteer for the Door County Mid Summer's Music Program and a very active member of the Church of the Atonement in Fish Creek, WI. She lived a full and active life.

Carole was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Judy Zemlicka.

She will be missed by her husband, George, with whom she shared over 58 years of marriage with; their beloved cat of 22 years, Coco; her siblings, Janet Zemlicka Roethle of Hendersonville, NC and Ron (Holly Albright) Zemlicka of Safety Harbor, FL; many  nieces and nephews, Lisa Roethle (Joe) Zucker of Charlotte, NC, John Henry (Kathy) Roethle of Mequon, WI, Christopher Roethle of Panama City, FL, Amie (Jay Castle) Zemlicka of Oakland, CA, and Kate Zemlicka (Robert) Buenger of Chicago, IL; great-nieces and great-nephews, Cannon Vick, Parker Vick, John Henry Roethle II, James H Castle III, and Charlotte Buenger.

Carol's life will be honored with a memorial service held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Church of the Atonement, 9415 Cottage Row, Fish Creek, WI 54212. Interment will be in the church memorial garden.

Memorials may be given in Carol’s name for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (MAIL TO: Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905; https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC).

“A heartfelt thanks goes to the ICU staff at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay for the wonderful and compassionate care you gave to Carole.”

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay, WI are assisting the Kraemer family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Carole may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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