Carol Kay Whisman of Palco, KS, passed away on December 31, 2022, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, KS, surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 70. She was born on September 2, 1952, in Hays, KS, to George and Berdena (Veatch) Whisman. She was united in marriage to Jack Dean in Mankato, KS in 1986. They later divorced.
Carol was raised on a farm in the Palco area. She loved this life with cattle, field work, rural living, and the outdoors. In 1970 she graduated from Palco High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music from Fort Hays University and Kansas State University. She received her MBA in finance from the University of Kansas and her Principal License from Fort Hays University. She taught music and band in several Kansas towns. While teaching in Belleville, she took the band to the Cherry Blossum Festival in Washington DC, and a year later they marched in the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, AZ.
While at Kansas State University, she became a 4-H International Foreign Exchange Student in Europe. She chose to visit families in Germany which became a life-long exchange. She made several trips to visit these friends and they made several to Kansas.
In retirement, she became the choir director at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ellis. She loved the music, the choir, and the people of the church. What a happy experience.
Carol is survived by her mother, Berdena Whisman of Palco; sister, Nancy Beyea of Palco; sister-in-law, Leola Whisman; nephews, Greggory Whisman, Geoffrey (Cammie) Whisman and family, Galen Whisman and Blake Beyea; niece, Nadia Beyea and family; friend, Mark Keller; many cousins; and a host of friends.
She is preceded in death by her father, George Whisman and her brother Daren Whisman.
For Carol, life was an adventure of music, traveling and family. Her encouragement and love of music gave us faith to sing and dance, peace to our lives, and to encourage generations to continue.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 10:30 AM, at the United Methodist Church in Palco. There will be no public visitation.
Memorials are suggested to Palco USD 269 (for the music programs) and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663.