Carol S. Gehl

Carol Sue (TeStrake) Gehl (4/4/1941 to 2/15/2026), born in Muscatine, Iowa and raised in Marshfield, Wisconsin, was the beloved eldest daughter of Margaret and Harvey TeStrake. As the oldest of five, she grew up alongside her brothers Bernard, Willard, and Gary, and her baby sister, Sally, offering steady guidance and setting a loving example from the very beginning.

In 1964, she married Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Gehl, beginning a love story that spanned over six decades. Their early married life took them to San Diego while Jerry served in the United States Navy, where they welcomed their first daughter, Holly.

Following their time in California, Carol and Jerry returned to Wisconsin and settled in Madison. There they experienced both profound sorrow and deep joy, losing their beloved son, Paul, at the age of two and welcoming their cherished daughter, Sara. Through every season of life, Carol showed what it meant to move forward with grace. The family later lived in Neenah before ultimately settling in Chippewa Falls, which they called home for the past 35 years.

Carol was a devoted mother and an extraordinary role model for her daughters. As a registered nurse, she lived out her calling to care for others with skill and compassion. She was also deeply committed to defending the rights of women and gave generously of her time in service to her community. Among her many contributions, she was instrumental in creating a car seat distribution program for newborns when car seat laws were first enacted in the 1970s, a legacy that continues to protect families.

Carol loved art and music and was an incredible seamstress, cook, and pianist. Her music filled the house, her meals gathered family, and her handmade creations became treasured heirlooms. She and Jerry also shared a love of travel and were fortunate to enjoy many adventures together, building a lifetime of memories side by side.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, in 2023, and by her son, Paul. We take comfort in imagining their reunion and the continuation of a love that endures.

She is lovingly survived by her daughters, Holly (Tim) Reiter and Sara (Scott) Eidam; her grandchildren, Sophia and Joel Reiter, Gale and Andrew Eidam; and her great-grandson, Atlas, born in 2025. Carol was overjoyed to meet Atlas in December, a moment of pure happiness.

In every era of her life, Carol led with steadfast love, resilience, service, and strength. She leaves behind a family shaped by her example and a community better because she lived in it.

The family is deeply grateful to St. Croix Hospice for the extraordinary compassion, dignity, and comfort they provided during Carol’s final days.

A private family service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Carol’s legacy of compassion and advocacy may consider a donation to Family Support Center, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, or the ACLU of Wisconsin, organizations whose missions reflect the causes she cared about deeply.