Carol Elizabeth (VandeYacht) Kauer, 78, passed away peacefully, just shy of her 79th birthday, on May 9, 2026, after a brief illness. During her courageous battle with her illness, she put up an unbelievable fight and never complained.

Born May 31,1947, to Norbert and Marie (Horn) Vande Yacht, she grew up in Hollandtown, WI attended St. Francis Grade School and later Kaukauna High School graduating in 1965.  She then attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing graduating in 1968 as a RN. She married Larry Kauer on August 24, 1968.

She started her nursing career at AMC in Appleton.  After a few years, she moved to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital working in the Recovery Unit.  The last years of her lifelong nursing career she worked at Peabody Manor in Menasha, retiring in 2015.  Of all the different units she worked as a nurse, geriatrics was her favorite.  Nursing was her passion.  Providing care to people as they struggled to heal came naturally to her.  She always put other people’s needs before her own.  She mentored new nurses sharing her wisdom and talent.  Many commented on her poise and calmness as she cared for her patients.  She considered the nurses and staff she worked with over the years as family.

Carol loved nature.  She enjoyed watching the various birds and squirrels in the woods where she lived.  She looked forward to the Mayflowers blooming every spring.  Carol loved sports.  Packers, Badgers, Brewers…she tried not to miss a game.  Sometimes she would make special treats for Packer Sundays.  A wonderful cook, her 7-Layer Salad was requested for every family party.

Carol loved her family.  She was proud of her parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren and all their endeavors.  She enjoyed immensely babysitting her grandkids. 

Carol is survived by her husband Larry Kauer, children Krista (Jim) Luedtke and Jason (Maggie) Kauer, and grandchildren Dylan, Daisy, and Sawyer Kauer.  She is further survived by her brothers Earl VandeYacht, Mark (Yardina) VandeYacht, Steve (Lee) VandeYacht, Brian (Bev) VandeYacht and Russ (Rose) VandeYacht, her sister Donna Chappall, sisters-in-law Carol Kuchelmeister, Lois Straus and Beverly Richard and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Norbert (Nubs) and Marie VandeYacht, her sons Kevin and Aaron Kauer, her father and mother-in-law Lawrence and Cecelia Kauer, her sister JoAnne VandeYacht, sisters-in-law Bobbi VandeYacht and Eileen Kettner, and her brothers-in-law Tom Kuchelmeister, Donald Straus, and Leland Richard.

A Funeral Mass celebrating Carol’s life will be held on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church-Darboy, W2806 Cty Rd. KK, Appleton. Visitation will begin at the church at 10:30 a.m. and will continue until the time of the Mass. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

Life is fragile.  Memories are not.  Rest in peace Carol.  Love you.

MOM

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one,

I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is gone,

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times, laughing times, and bright and sunny days,

I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun,

Of Happy memories that I leave when life is done.