Carolyn Jean Takle completed her remarkable life journey on May 30, 2026, just four days after celebrating her 74th birthday. Celebration of Life Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW in Cedar Rapids. Friends may visit with the family after 10 a.m. Saturday prior to the service at Brosh Chapel.

Born on May 26, 1952 in Toledo, Ohio. Carolyn lived a life defined by compassion, devotion, and an unwavering love for her family and community. Raised with a deep sense of service, Carolyn found her calling in nursing. After earning her ASN from Iowa Central Community College in 1984, she became a Registered Nurse, a role that became both her profession and purpose. She spent many years serving Hamilton County Public Health, specializing in hospice care and geriatrics. Her gentle presence, steady hands, and ability to bring comfort during life’s most vulnerable moments made her a cherished caregiver to countless families. To those she served, she was more than a nurse; she was a source of peace, dignity, and grace.

At home, Carolyn was known as "The Mema" her warmth radiated through every room she entered. She was a phenomenal cook whose meals brought people together and whose kitchen was always a place of laughter, stories, and second helpings. She was also an avid football fan college and NFL alike never missing a game and cheering with the kind of passion that made every Saturday and Sunday feel like a family event. But above all else, Carolyn’s greatest joy and deepest pride were her children. She poured her heart into raising them, supporting them, and celebrating every milestone of their lives. She is survived by her beloved children Dianne (Joe) Birkemeier, Sherie (Eric) Silbaugh, and Patrick (Alesha) Farley, her cherished grandchildren, Curtis (Kylie) Silbaugh, Tristan Mckenna, Savannah Mckenna, Jake (Michelle) Silbaugh, Cameron Silbaugh, William Tinto, Jackson Silbaugh, Boston Farley, Tessi Farley and her 2 great grandchildren Elena, and Lachlan Silbaugh.

In December of 1991, Carolyn married the love of her life, Dave Takle. Their marriage was a partnership built on devotion, humor, and a shared commitment to family. Together, they created a home filled with warmth, understanding, and the kind of love that endures long after a lifetime. Carolyn’s legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and wholehearted love. She touched lives through her work, shaped futures through her family, and left behind a world made better by her presence. Those who knew her will remember her kindness, her laughter, her fierce loyalty, and the way she made everyone feel seen and valued. As her family grieves her passing, they also celebrate the extraordinary life she lived, a life that will continue to echo through the generations she nurtured and the countless hearts she comforted.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family.