Caroline Carlson Obituary Caroline Cromwell Carlson, 84, passed away peacefully on January 24th, surrounded by her family, at her home in Plymouth, Minnesota. Caroline was born August 31, 1940, in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of State Senator Fred Cromwell and his wife Esther, an accomplished educator. Caroline graduated from Burlington High School in 1958. She continued her education at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating with a major in psychology in 1962. She obtained a masters degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 1976. Caroline had two children, Hubbard & Molly Stout with her first husband. In 1976, she met Bruce Carlson of Minnesota, and they were married in 1977. Caroline chose teaching as a career and eventually joined the teaching staff of Breck School in 1983. For 23 years she was a revered teacher of 5th grade English, Ancient History & Reading. At Breck, she made lifelong friends with her colleagues, who expressed that she was a "calming presence, a voice of reason and a nurturing teacher". Her deep interest in learning styles of children made her a mentor for the 5th grade teaching team at Breck. She cared about every student and had an extraordinary way of helping students grow into adulthood. Caroline had many interests and talents. She and Bruce enjoyed traveling the world together and they were fortunate enough to build a home in Mexico, where friends and family frequently vacationed. She also enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Lake Vermillion and more recently at their home in Tonto Verde, Arizona. Caroline had a beautiful voice, having trained as an opera singer in high school, and was a member of the Keynotes, a well-known singing group at Carleton. She was an avid runner, rollerblader, reader, knitter and passionate gardener. Caroline was also known for her creativity and style. She knew how to host a great party, loved a good shopping trip and was always "dressed to the nines". Caroline was an optimistic, gracious and caring person, which garnered her many friends throughout her life. She maintained a positive attitude even during the toughest times, as was apparent during her battle with Parkinsons disease. She had amazing friends and caregivers who helped her through this time. We would like to express our deepest gratitude toward each one of them. Above all, Caroline treasured her family. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Caroline is survived by her husband, Bruce McNear Carlson of Plymouth, MN. Son, John Hubbard Stout and wife Johanna and their children, Sophie and John of Deephaven, MN. Her daughter, Molly Whipple and husband Trey and their children, Alec, John, Ford, & Caroline of Excelsior, MN. Her brother, Thomas Cromwell and his wife Jean and their children and grandchildren of Belvedere, California. A celebration of life for Caroline will be held at The Breck School Chapel of the Holy Spirit on May 17th, 2025 at 1:00PM. Reception will follow. Donations can be made to the Mayo Clinic for Parkinsons disease research: give.mayoclinic.org Services Celebration of Life Saturday May 17, 2025 1:00 PM The Breck School Chapel of the Holy Spirit 123 Ottawa Avenue North Golden Valley, MN 55422