Carol Sue Baalman

Carol Sue Baalman, 77, passed away Thursday, October 2, 2014, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. She was born May 28, 1937 to Leland and Celeste (Schwebauch) McIlnay in Dorchester, Nebraska. Carol attended school in Colby, Kansas and graduated from Colby High School with the Class of 1955. She then moved to Denver, graduated from Barnes Business School and worked. A highlight in Carol’s life was meeting Elvis Presley in an elevator and him buying her dinner. A few years later, Carol returned to Northwest Kansas where she met the love of her life, Howard John Baalman. She married him April 22, 1959, in Colby, Kansas. They made their home near Seguin, Kansas and to this union, they were blessed with five beautiful children; Stephanie, Keyna, Danielle, Darcy, and Mitchell. Howard and Carol were married for fifty-five years. Carol loved life and lived every moment to the fullest. She was an excellent homemaker and enjoyed being the family farm errand runner. Carol was also the bookkeeper for the family business and never retired. She loved farm life, and her greatest pride was getting the paychecks out on time. Some of Carol’s favorite things were cooking, quilting, scrapbooking, coin collecting, traveling, and playing Blackjack at the casino; not to mention she was the family photographer. Carol baked the best chocolate chip cookies around and was known for her famous peanut brittle. Over the years, Carol and Howard were able to take a number of trips traveling to Europe and taking an Alaskan Cruise. Her great gambling advice included “if you lose three times you need to get up and walk away”. Family was important and she loved each one of them dearly. She looked forward to and hosted many McIlnay Family Reunions. Carol volunteered on the Sheridan County Election Board and at the American Red Cross Blood Mobile. A recent pleasure was going to Oscar’s and spending time with the “Chatty Cathy” Coffee Group. Carol will be greatly missed by all her family and friends who loved her so dearly. Carol was a member of the St. Martin Catholic Church. She belonged to St. Ann’s Sodality, serving as president up until her death. On Sunday, September 28, 2014, the Bishop, the Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger, blessed Carol and Howard’s fifty-five years of marriage. Carol is survived by her husband, Howard John Baalman of the Home; daughters, Stephanie Schippers and husband David of Hoxie, Kansas; Keyna Baalman of Colby, Kansas, Danielle Perry and husband Dave of Minneapolis, Kansas, and Darcy Hotz and husband Art of Rosehill, Kansas; son, Mitchell Baalman and wife Lola of Hoxie, Kansas; brothers, Burt McIlany of Glendale, Arizonia, David McIlany of Loveland, Colorado, and Joe McIlnay and wife Sheryl of Colby, Kansas; sisters, LeeAnn Rehmer of Grinnell, Kansas, Kathleen Tubbs and husband Jim of Colby, Kansas, and Tracey Perkins of Colby, Kansas. Grandchildren, Alexandrea Brill, Kathryn Alvarado, Matthew Schippers, Jason Schippers, Trevor Lambert, Trenten Lambert, Logan Hotz, Lauren Hotz, Aidan Baalman, Miles Baalman, Tucker Baalman, and Kendall Baalman; and great-grandchildren, Evie and Finley Schippers, Demi and Archie Schippers, and Brooklyn and Stella Alvarado. She was preceded in death by her parents Leland and Celeste McIlnay; father and mother-in-law, Ed and Leoba Baalman. Reception: Hoxie Elks Lodge