Carol JoAnn Irick

Carol, the 3rd of 12 children, was born April 4, 1933 in Fargo, ND to Telesphore "Tillie" and Leona Savageau. Carol's siblings include Phyllis (dec), Jim (dec), Dick, Mary Kay, Jan (dec), Bob, Tom, Paul (dec), Barb, Jane, and Mark. Carol was raised in Fargo where her father was a Skelly Service Station owner and county commissioner. 

Carol graduated from St Anthony of Padua Grade School in 1947 and Shanley High School in 1951, where she was the exchange editor for the newspaper, sang in the glee club, and belonged to Our Lady of Victory Sodality. She enjoyed ice skating, dancing, bowling, potluck, church choir, family picnics and visits to her grandparents farm. In later years her greatest joy came from her family, children, and grandchildren. 

Carol worked for the Fargo National Bank as a bookkeeper, teller and head teller. In 1958, she met and then married Wayne Irick. She had told Wayne that her father was in the oil business, however by the time he realized the oil business was a Skelly Station, Wayne had already decided on Carol for love instead of money. The newly married couple moved to Chicago where Wayne had been hired by Republic Steel Corporation. They set up housekeeping in Harvey, IL. A steel strike in 1959 prompted a move to the new state of Alaska where Wayne had been hired by Chandler Plumbing and Heating in Fairbanks. Carol, who was pregnant, was quite apprehensive when she met her new obstetrician in his log cabin office by the Chena River. Soon after Paula was born on October 23, 1959, the family moved into a new house. Steve was born June 16, 1962. 

Life in Fairbanks was harsh and in 1964 they relocated to Denver where Wayne worked in mechanical contracting while Carol managed the home, the children, and the checkbook. She also found time to volunteer at the children's school, girl scouts, Notre Dame Church and still play bridge "once in a while". Wayne remembers a time when he came home from work and the smoke alarm was blaring (they all smoked in those days) but the game continued, uninterrupted! 

Their first house in Denver was in Bear Valley, from there they moved to Lakewood where they stayed until Wayne was transferred to Natkin's Santa Clara office. In 1985, they returned to Colorado to stay. In 2020, they made their final move to Bonaventure Retirement community in Thornton, CO.

In addition to their children, they were blessed with five grandchildren, Michael, Matthew (Rebecca) and Ryan (Marie Pier) Gutzmer, and Luke (Kelly) and Sara Irick (spouse Micael Brown). They have six great grandchildren, Carson and Ainsley Gutzmer, Noah Gutzmer, Mark and Joel Irick, and Anaiah Brown, along with numerous nieces and nephews. 

In addition to their relocations, Carol and Wayne have travelled to Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Monaco, the Caribbean and most all States. They also visited all of the Presidential libraries. 

Carol was followed by hospice during her final months. She passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on November 9th, 2024.

Services will be held Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 2pm at Horan and McConaty Mortuary in Thornton, CO with a celebration of Carol's life to be held March, 30, 2025, details to follow. 

Carol loved to cook for people and there was always space at the table. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Food Bank of the Rockies in her memory. A direct link for donation can be found below. Carol’s family would like to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and kind expressions of sympathy.