Carol Ann Van Amber, 88, of Woodbury, Minnesota, and formerly of Amery, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2026, at St. Therese Long-Term Care in Woodbury.

Carol was born February 25, 1938, at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, Minnesota, the only child of Peter Carl Paulsen and Alice Ruth Kathleen (Sundberg) Paulsen. She grew up in Kensington, Minnesota, and was baptized and later confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. She graduated from Alexandria High School in 1956.

On October 11, 1958, Carol married Darrel Ray Van Amber at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. The two were classmates and met at Gene's Barn near Alexandria where they began their love for each other. They shared a lifelong love of dancing. They made their home near Lake Darling outside Alexandria before moving to Amery, Wisconsin, then to Bloomington, Minnesota, and later back to Amery, Wisconsin. For many years they also wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona.

Besides raising a family, Carol worked as a bookkeeper for Amery Equity Co-op in Amery and later for Furniture Barn in Bloomington. She then worked in the elementary school office for the Amery Public Schools, retiring in 1998.

Carol loved entertaining and cherished time with family, delighting in spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she always enjoyed socializing with friends, often looking for an excuse to take everyone out for a bite to eat. Early in her retirement, Carol volunteered to help with the annual Polk County Fair. She embraced her Scandinavian heritage, enjoying lutefisk and lefse at church dinners each fall and during the holidays. While wintering in Arizona, she took up painting and produced many works that adorned her walls.

In her early years, Carol was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Minnesota, and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Amery, Wisconsin. More recently, she was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Amery, Wisconsin, and often attended Sunday services at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp during the summer months.

Several years after Darrel's death in 2006, Carol met her special friend, James Humphrey, known as Jim, who had also lost his first spouse. Carol and Jim divided their time between Apache Junction, Arizona, and Carol's home in Amery, Wisconsin, until 2021, after which they resided full-time in Amery until Jim's death in 2024. Carol moved to Talamore Senior Living in Woodbury, Minnesota, in December 2024. In retirement, she enjoyed playing cards, watching the Vikings and Twins, and dancing to old-time music.

Carol is survived by her sons: Alan Lee Van Amber and his wife, Janis Kay (Meister), of Burnsville, Minnesota; and Dean Ray Van Amber and his wife, Kirsten Louise (Alvarez), of Málaga, Spain; and by her son-in-law, Tom St. John, of Blaine, Minnesota, widower of her late daughter, Jane.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: from her late daughter, Jane — Nicolas Stuntz, and Tyrelle; Amber (Stuntz) Khemkhajon, and Grant; and step-grandchildren Jason St. John and Racheal St. John; from Alan — Alison (Van Amber) Scott, and Sam; Brandon Van Amber, and Ashley; and Courtney (Van Amber) Roth, and Thomas; and from Dean — Carly Van Amber, Hannah Van Amber, and step-granddaughter Kaitlyn Alvarez; along with 8 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter, and 2 step-great-great-grandchildren.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Darrel Ray Van Amber (2006); her daughter, Jane Marie (Van Amber) St. John (2018); her special friend, Jim Humphrey (2024); and her parents, Peter Carl Paulsen (1973) and Alice Ruth Kathleen (Sundberg) Paulsen (1986).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp in Amery, Wisconsin.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at St. Therese Long-Term Care in Woodbury and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 21, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery, Wisconsin.

Interment and a graveside service will be held Saturday, August 22, at 2:00 PM at Evergreen Cemetery in Alexandria, Minnesota.