Carol S. Lauhon, born Carol Sinclair Cameron on November 13, 1943, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, died August 3, 2021, at her home in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, succumbing after years of resisting a neuroendocrine form of cancer.
Carol grew up in nearby Chelsea, a hometown she never stopped loving, successfully managing as a schoolchild the effects of her father’s prominence as Superintendent of Schools. She also loved Kalamazoo College, from which she graduated in 1966, after a one-year delay for surgery to correct a spinal problem.
In 1966 she married Edward Brooks Lauhon, confirming the love that began for them at Chelsea High School. She completed an MA in Special Education at the University of Michigan in 1969, taught in the Ann Arbor school system, and supported Ed’s progress toward his 1979 UofM PhD in Education and his appointment to the faculty of Augustana College in Rock Island, IL—all while adding children to the family: Lincoln in 1971, Alicia in 1975, and Jordan in 1977.
Apparently in perfect health, in 1984 Ed suffered a cardiac arrest after running a routine weekend race. Revived but paralyzed and unable to speak due to brain damage, Ed survived five years at home, cared for by Carol and the children and caregivers, until passing away in January, 1990. Carol continued rearing her children through middle school, high school, and college, while also continuing to pursue her own PhD and the teaching of creative non-fiction writing at the University of Iowa and in private classes in the Quad Cities. She also committed years of work to leading the group that brought a Planned Parenthood facility to the Quad Cities.
Her teaching—in-person and on-line—was remarkable for its personal effect on students, her evaluations often including “best teacher I’ve ever had.” She said she did not want to approach writing as therapy, but her persuasion that truth in writing usually produced better writing seemed to have wholesome effects. A friend from her Kalamazoo College years, Randy Huyck, became a companion in these years.
In 2004 she moved to Chicago, where Lincoln and his wife Maureen had settled, and where Alicia also settled later. She finished her dissertation and received her PhD in 2005, and she continued her progressive commitments in major committee work for Lake Street Church in Evanston and for Gale Elementary School in her adopted neighborhood of Rogers Park.
Carol is survived by her son Lincoln, his wife Maureen Bolon, and their daughter Elena; her daughter Alicia and her husband Thomas Gansauge; her son Jordan, his wife Rosana Avila, and their daughter Emilia; her brother Charles Cameron, his wife Barbara, and their children, Tim, Virginia, Jay, Matt and Jenny; her brother Jim Cameron, his wife Marcia, and their children Kyle, Kelsey, and Dan; her brother George Cameron, his wife Karen, and their children Amber, Gabe, Charlie, and Carol; spouses and children of nieces and nephews; her companion Randy Huyck and his children, Matthew, David, and Teddy, who are also devoted to Carol; and many other friends and relatives.A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the Chelsea First United Methodist Church, 128 Park St. Chelsea, MI 48118, at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. The family will receive friends Friday, September 17, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the church and 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. before the service Saturday. Flowers may be sent to the church. To keep up-to-date with any changes to the service or visitation times please check back here or go to Carol’s Memorial Website at https://sites.google.com/view/carol-lauhon-memorial/.You may share a memory or leave a message for Carol's family using the form below. Please allow up to 24 hours for us to review and post your comment.