Carol Clarey, 83 of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021 at Accura HealthCare in Le Mars.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at All Saints Parish – St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will begin at 4:00 p.m., with a Catholic Daughter's Rosary at 5:00 p.m., and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at the church. Arrangements are with Rexwinkel Funeral Home of Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars.

Carol Jean Hillrichs was born on January 3, 1938 in rural Akron, Iowa to Fred and Alma (Meinen) Hillrichs. She attended Akron Public Schools. Carol was united in marriage to Paul (Al) Clarey on March 30, 1955 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elk Point, South Dakota. They lived in Elk Point, Sioux City, and rural Merrill before moving to Le Mars in 1982. For over 60 years, Carol provided daycare in her home.

Carol was a member of All Saints Parish in Le Mars, the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters Court Santa Maria-179, and Christian Mothers.

Carol is survived by her children: Tim (Jane) Clarey of Le Mars, Connie (Mike) Schmidt of Dakota Dunes, SD, Mike (Kim) Clarey of Le Mars, Lori (Kirk) Brown of Le Mars, and Joe (Jackie) Clarey of Le Mars; 16 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; brothers: Marlin (Pearl) Hillrichs, Richard (Cherlyn) Hillrichs, and Kenneth Hillrichs; sisters in law, Lucy Sitzmann and Jean Clarey; brothers in law, Phil Vondrak and Dennis Beck; and many nieces and nephews.

Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Paul (2008); son, Jeffrey John (1987); granddaughter, Kaitelin Clarey (1984); parents; infant sister, Marlys; siblings in law: Loretta Hillrichs, Jack (Mary) (Nadine) Clarey, Patricia (Dwight) Graham, Richard (Shirley) Clarey, Ann (Leo) DeRocher, Ray (Helen) Clarey, Emmett Sitzmann, Lu Beck, and Donna Vondrak.