Carol M. Bortz

Carol Marie Bortz (Zimmerman), age 55, of St. Germain, passed away on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at her home in Eau Claire.
She was born on Sept. 6, 1961, in Chicago, the daughter of Eugene and Teresa (nee Wagner) Zimmerman. She was married to Dean Bortz from 1980 through 1997.
During her childhood years, her family lived in Lake Zurich, Ill., Omro, Wis., and Butternut. Carol graduated from Butternut High School in 1979.
She studied at South Puget Sound Community College in Lacey, Wash., and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  She started her pharmacy technician career at Joe’s Lakeland Pharmacy and Woodruff Pharmacy. Her career continued for 10-plus years at the Marshfield Clinic in Minocqua, where her role expanded to include patient care support and medication refill. Carol spent the last eight months working in the same capacity at the Marshfield Clinic in Eau Claire.

Survivors include her four children: Melissa (Christopher) Parish, of Eau Claire; Nathan (Lisa) Bortz, of Minneapolis, Minn., Amanda (Andy) Dolan, of Butternut; and Daniel (Audrianna) Bortz, of Thornton, Colo. She is also survived by three grandchildren (Mason, Ashlynn, and Alanna), three siblings, and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Teresa Zimmerman.

Carol will be remembered for her love of live music and many forms of outdoor recreation. She was particularly fond of the lakes and trails of Vilas and Oneida counties, and hiking the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountains near Washington’s Mount Rainier.
The people whose lives Carol touched will remember her kind and gentle soul, her recognition of the good in everybody, and her concern for the welfare of others. She was devoted to her three grandchildren and loved being their grandmother.

A celebration of life gathering will take place Saturday, Feb. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. at American Legion Post 89, 121 Front St, Minocqua, WI 54548. In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations in Carol’s name to the Royal Credit Union of Eau Claire for the American Diabetes Association.