Carol Jean Stampfli
Carol Jean Stampfli, who will be remembered as a loving mother and wife, died peacefully on October 24, 2009 in Peterborough NH at the age of 88.
She was born Carol Jean Wolkins on April 2, 1921 in Washington, IN, the daughter of Ottis Raymond Wolkins and Wilhelmina (Bauer) Wolkins. She was the first of two children, and had one younger sister. In 1935 at age 14 years, her family moved from Washington to Charleston, SC, where her father began work at the U.S. Navy Yard as a sheet metal worker in support of the war effort. After graduation from Charleston’s Memminger High School in 1938, Carol entered the nursing program at the medical college in Charleston in 1939 at the age of 18. While a nursing student, Carol met her future husband of 67 years Wendell Phillips Stampfli Jr., who was completing his internship in medicine at the University of South Carolina. On June 4, 1942, she graduated from the Medical College of the State of South Carolina with a nursing degree.
Carol and Wendell were joined in marriage at the University of Chicago’s Thorndike Memorial Chapel on October 7, 1942, subsequent to Wendell’s award of a Kellogg Foundation Fellowship to complete a residency in radiology at that institution. In July of 1943, the couple welcomed Judith Anne, the first of five children, while living in Holland, MI. They lived in Iowa City, IA from 1943-45 during Wendell’s second residency, and spent three very happy years hallmarked by the birth of their second daughter Carol Jean. The young family then embarked on the most significant move of their lives, going west to Denver, CO in the spring of 1946, where they would spend the next 24 years. Carol was devoted to raising her family during this period, which soon expanded with the birth of three sons, Wendell Phillips III, Stephen Michael and Martin Michael Scott. During these years, her husband was employed as a radiologist (MD) by St. Luke’s Hospital in the Department of Radiology.
While most of her time in Denver was devoted to caring for her family and their Belcaro Park home, Carol developed her skills as an artist during these years. She became interested in the arts during a 1946 visit back to Charleston, where she adopted a project to decorate the top of a music box. Back in Denver, she continued developing her skills through numerous classes at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, accompanied by Betty Patton her neighbor and best friend in Denver. Her first art teacher was Olive Green, an accomplished painter who had studied under the abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann. Carol eventually became skilled in oils, watercolor, sketching, pottery, collage and enamel-on-copper. Among other accomplishments, one of her collage works was accepted into the Denver Municipal Art Show at the Denver Museum of Art. She also displayed at the Opportunity School’s 4th Annual Art Festival exhibition in 1952-53. Carol and her family were members of the St. John’s and St. Barnabus Episcopal church congregations while in Denver.
In 1970, Carol and Wendell left Denver for life in the upper Arkansas River valley of central Colorado. The family lived two years in Salida, later moving to the banks of Chalk Creek near Mt. Princeton. Here, Carol supported her husband in his new position as radiologist at Salida Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital in Leadville and the Fairplay Hospital.
While living along Chalk Creek, Carol continued her artistic pursuits, and was active in the Salida Hospital Auxiliary and PEO. She and Wendell also enjoyed socializing with friends, caring for pets, exploring Colorado ghost towns in their jeep, and rock collecting. The couple left Chalk Creek in November 1991 for Rochester MN, where Wendell pursued expansion of his antique microscope collection. They next moved to Iowa City, IA where they maintained their fourth family home. Their final move was in July 2002, when they relocated to the River- Mead Retirement Community in Peterborough, NH and final retirement.
Carol is survived by her husband Wendell Phillips Stampfli Jr. of Peterborough, NH; daughter Judith Anne Dennis and husband Guy of Amherst, NH; daughter Carol Jean Ferrin and husband Leo of Brighton, CO; son Wendell Phillips Stampfli III and wife Betsy of Ft. Collins, CO; son Stephen Michael Stampfli of White Salmon, WA; and son Martin Michael Scott Stampfli of Elko, NV. Surviving grandchildren include Douglas Timothy Ferrin and wife Namju of Gresham, OR; Tia Celene Dennis and husband Charles Morris of Sherborn, MA; Benjamin Todd Stampfli of Ft. Collins, CO; Brett St. Germain Dennis of Austin, TX; and Tyler Blake Stampfli of Ft. Collins, CO. Great- grandchildren include Austen Dennis Morris and Silas Stampfli Morris of Sherborn, MA. Carol is also survived by her sister Phyllis Louise (Wolkins) Yon of Tallahassee, FL. She was preceded in death by her mother Wilhelmina (Bauer) Wolkins in 1996, and father Ottis Raymond Wolkins in 1958. Carol’s most lasting and appreciated contributions were to her large and loving family, to which her life was principally devoted.
A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the All Saint’s Episcopal Church, 51 Concord St., Peterborough, NH. The service, led by Reverend Adrian Robbins-Cole, will be followed by a 3:30 PM reception to be held in the RiverMead Retirement Community courtyard in Peterborough. Following the eventual passing of her husband, both Carol and Wendell will be further celebrated at a joint service to be held in Denver, CO (time and place to be announced). This will be followed by interment of both in Denver.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation, 1719 E. 19th Avenue, Suite 574B, Denver, Colorado 80218.
Jellison Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
