Carol Karbowski

Carol Karbowski of Sun City West, Arizona, and Jacksonport, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on November 23rd, 2024, at the Heritage Legacy in Sun City West, Arizona. She was 85 years old. Carol was the youngest of eight children, born to Catherine and Simon Gebhardt of Brookfield, Wisconsin. She graduated from St Mary’s Visitation School in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, and then Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, WI. Carol also obtained an associate’s degree in business and accounting from Waukesha County Technical College. Carol married her high school sweetheart, Richard Karbowski in 1959. She gave birth to a daughter, Debra, and later a son, Michael. In 1977, Carol and Richard founded Advanced Communication Services, currently of New Berlin, WI, which is still in business today. Carol is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Richard, and daughter Debra. She is survived by her son Michael and many nieces and nephews.
Carol was a catholic and belonged to the Stella Maris parish in Door County, WI, and Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Sun City West, AZ, where she was also a Eucharistic minister.
She was a very smart and hard working person, earning straight A’s throughout her scholastic endeavors, and later working as the office manager and accountant for Advanced Communication Services.
Carol was a wonderful mother. Her daughter Debra was born with cerebral palsy and was in diapers and unable to feed herself for her entire life. Carol and Richard cared for her at home until she was 32 years old. She said that eventually entrusting her to a care facility was the hardest decision of her life.
Carol loved playing cards, especially bridge, which she was very good at, belonging to clubs in both AZ and WI. She also enjoyed going on cruises, with multiple cruises to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, and even one in China. Carol was an avid golfer, belonging to leagues in WI and AZ, and she even achieved a hole in one, on two separate occasions.
Everyone knew that Carol’s guilty pleasure was playing the slot machines at the casinos. Two of her favorite machines were Buffalo and Quick Hit. I think her favorite city in the world was Laughlin Nevada. Even though the odds favor the house, she usually seemed to come back with more money than she brought. She was the luckiest person I knew.
Carol enjoyed sharing a good story, (some even true;), a good laugh, and a good drink, (or two). Whenever a server would ask if she’d like a second drink, she’d often say, “of course I’ll have another one, you can’t stand on just one leg, can you?”.
Carol was a great person, a wonderful mother, a true friend, and a classy lady. She is deeply missed. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
I would like to express my gratitude to the kind and caring staff of the Heritage Legacy in Sun City West for making her last couple years as comfortable and fulfilling as possible. They made her feel special, and for that I will be forever grateful.
A celebration of life will be held 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Camino del Sol’s Reception Center, 13738 W. Camino del Sol, Sun City West, AZ 85375 with a Luncheon at Angela’s Kitchen to follow. If you have any stories or photographs to share, please feel free to bring them. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heritage Legacy employee appreciation fund, at 13813 W. Woodside Dr. Sun City West, AZ 85375.