Carrol Christ

Carrol A. Christ, 84, of Moline, IL, passed away Thursday, February 04, 2016, at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island, Rock Island, IL, after an extended illness.

A memorial gathering and services will be held on Friday, February 12, 2016, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline, IL. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. Burial of cremains will be at Moline Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Therapy Center in Moline.

Carrol, the daughter of Anton and Anna George was born in Milwaukee, WI, on December 24, 1931. She graduated from the Milwaukee public school system and attended the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. In 1948, she married Robert "Bob" Christ, her high school sweetheart. She remained in Milwaukee while Bob completed his engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. During that time, Carrol worked in Milwaukee as a teen clothing designer for Junior House and as an office manager at a printing company.

After their first son, Dean, was born, the family moved in 1952 to Moline. In subsequent years, the family also lived for a time in Dubuque, IA, and Heidelberg, Germany, in connection with Bob's employment at Deere & Company.

Wherever the family lived, Carrol was active in social clubs, philanthropic, and volunteer service organizations. She organized the Welcome Wagon Club for new families in the community, was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, and founded and coached Moline's first girls' softball team. She was active in the school PTA and a teacher for Project Now and Head Start Programs. Carrol was a volunteer at the adult Opportunity Center and the Children's Therapy Center, where she managed the center's Lego Tech Program. She was an accomplished dancer and together, with her husband, Bob, they belonged to the Quad Cities Terpsichorean Dance Club.

While the family resided in Heidelberg, Germany for six years, she continued her Girl Scout and Cub Scout programs and participated in the German-American Women's organization. During this time, she enjoyed travels throughout 25 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. She had a magnetic personality, and was liked and admired in all environments.

Carrol and her family were long time members of the First Congregational Church of Moline. She also had been a leader in the 20th Century Women's Club of Moline since its inception.

While being a very caring stay-at-home-mother, she joyfully searched out opportunities to serve her communities and friends.

Carrol was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters. She is survived by her husband, Bob; children, Dean (Joan) of Oak Park, IL, Valerie (Paul) Carper, Ashland, OH, and Randy Christ, Key West, FL; grandchildren, Megan Christ, Zachary Christ, Christen Carper, Courtney Carper, and Ryan Carper; great grandchildren, Carson and Greyson.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.