Carol Edith Phelps, 89, of Kingsley, Iowa, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Kingsley.

Private family services are pending.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

Carol was born August 18, 1935 to Eva (Coryell) Jensen in the small dairy-farming community of Loyal, Wisconsin, where she lived her early years with her maternal grandparents Frank & Emma Coryell. Her mother Eva worked as a cook/housekeeper in Chicago (her favorite position being with the Andrew McNally family of the Rand McNally map publishing firm.) Carol's father Jens Jensen was a chef at El Tovar Resort in the Grand Canyon.

After graduating from Loyal High School in 1953, she furthered her education at Grinnell College. After two years of study there, she transferred to Indiana University where she completed her degree in Journalism in 1957. During her time at Grinnell College, she had met Robert Phelps and asked him to a Sadie Hawkins dance. He was a "no-show." He cited some lame excuse about football practice or a track meet. So that was the end of Bob (for a while.)

After her graduation from Indiana University, she & Bob miraculously reconnected & she gave him a second chance. While he was working in Des Moines, she worked as a reporter, then women's editor, for the Ames Daily Tribune, 1958-1961. On June 10, 1961, they were married in Loyal, Wisconsin. Robert passed away on December 25, 2022. They were married 61 ½ years.  To this union were born Alison (1962); Bobby (1963); & Scott (1968).

After moving to Kingsley in 1963, Carol and Bob first put down stakes on Rutland Street. At that time, the number of kids per capita was at an all-time high for that area of town. Carol wore many hats and definitely did her share as neighborhood mom, including, but not limited to, activity director, counselor, taxi driver, first aid nurse, snack maker, animal caretaker (both domestic and feral), bully-blunter, sports equipment manager etc.

Her whole life was selflessly spent focusing on her marriage and family. Grandkids always enjoyed the open-door policy for anything/anytime. They thought her custom-made snacks and trinkets were fire! If you weren't in the mood for regular OJ, scrambled eggs and sausage that was already made, fret not. She would make fresh squeezed OJ, sunny-side-up eggs, and bacon, if you desired. Always a team player if she knew a grandchild had the flu and needed a sitter, she would say "that is what grandmas are for!"  If she already had plans, those would be postponed or cancelled. She was sensitive to all, and unconditionally did not play favorites or judge, consequently more than earning her family's eternal love and respect.

Carol comes from a legacy of women (her mother Eva & her grandmother Emma) who were Prayer Warriors; who proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ as their God & Savior. She humbly and faithfully lived her life showing the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus in her every word and action. Contained within her quiet and gentle spirit was (and still is!) a bold & courageous Prayer Warrior. Even through her later years battling dementia, she could be heard praying out loud on behalf of others before the Almighty God.

Carol was a freelance correspondent for multiple publications for much of her life.  She was a 62-year member of PEO Chapter GS; a member of Kingsley United Methodist Church; and the United Methodist Women. Carol had many passions and interests; art, architecture, maps, nature, and photography, to name a few. All animals benefited from her kind heart. She had a fairly sophisticated darkroom in her basement that led to many photo albums documenting her beautiful work.  She was a voracious reader. In addition to being a library regular, she had a massive collection of biographies & books of innumerable topics.

Carol enjoyed telling stories of her cousin Howard H. Newell, who was a WWF Professional Wrestler, charting 1688 career matches on World Tour. Occasionally, he would wrestle live alligators and bears for fundraisers. Cousin Dick Mellien was a close-in-age cousin with whom she grew up & had many treasured memories. She also spoke of Don Coryell (Hall of Fame) coach of the San Diego Chargers and instigator of the wildly popular "Air Coryell" offensive scheme.

Carol is survived by her daughter Alison (Donley) Hoogeveen; son Robert Wylie Phelps (fiancée Jill); son Scott Coryell (Laura) Phelps; grandchildren, Colton Scott Phelps (fiancée Megan); Kiana Jo Phelps and Nicholas Wylie Phelps. In addition to cousins, nieces and nephews, she is survived by sisters-in-law Sally Phelps Wells and Linda Phelps; and brother-in-law Robert Kratz.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert Brooks Phelps, and granddaughter Krista Coryell Phelps.

Special mention, gratitude & appreciation are given to faithful and loving friend Jeannine Anderson; Cindy Powell; & Carol's outstanding caregivers/helpers:  Donna, Julianne, Ashton, Betty, and Krista L.