Carol Jean Keeler Christenson Zacha

December 30, 1936 – June 2, 2025

Carol (aka Mom, Grandma, GG (Great Grandma), CJ and Carol Jean) was born in Warroad Minnesota – "God's country." Carol was born to Etta Keeler and when she was 9 years old, she went to live with Etta's sister, Ruth and her husband, Irvin, in Lamoure, North Dakota. Ruth and Irvin adopted her when she was 12 and she became their whole life. Carol lived a beautiful life in LaMoure, and graduated from Lamoure High School in 1954. After High School, Carol attended Concordia Nursing School in Moorhead Minnesota. One of her classmates was Margaret Zacha who was sure her brother Jim would be the perfect tall man for Carol. They met and the rest is history – they were married on September 2, 1956.

Carol is survived by her 3 children Chuck Zacha (Lois) in Manville, ND, Shawn Zahedi (Mark) in Broomfield, CO, and Kristi Casinger in New Smyrna Beach FL. Carol has 6 Grandchildren, John (Nikki) Zacha (MN), Leilah (James) Spung (CO), Cameron (Rebekah) Zahedi (CO), Zachary (Ashley) Zahedi (GA), Christian (Jenny) Casinger (FL), and Noah (Fiance`Angie) Casinger, (FL). Carol has 3 Great Grandchildren, Nora (6) and JJ (4) Spung in Denver and Elijah (19 mos) and Amelia Zahedi (due in July) in Atlanta. Carol was very involved in her grandchildren's lives and she was loved by all.

Carol was an active member of the Lutheran Church with a strong faith in Jesus, and loved to golf, play cards, sing in the church choir, attend and facilitate women's retreats, and she loved a great book. Carol was the epitome of the 1960's wife who was a housewife and mother and had dinner on the table (meat and potatoes) at 5:30 pm every night. Carol and Jim moved to 15 different cities and over 30 homes in their years together and she became an expert organizer. Carol was beautiful, funny, graceful, elegant, kind, smart, and raised 4 kids while Jim travelled all week. Carol was resilient and strong and passed her gift of inner strength to her children and grandchildren. For this gift, her family is grateful.

Carol was preceded in death by her daughter Karol Kay Zacha, her husband of 64 years, Jim Zacha, and her parents. Carol's CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE is Friday June 6, 2025 at 1 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Smyrna Beach, FL.