Carole Harms

A livestream of the memorial service is available below, or by going to the New Bridge Church Winterset's YouTube Page.

Carole Harms, passed away unexpectedly after an auto accident on September 19, 2023, at the age of 62. She was born on January 27, 1961, in McHenry, Illinois, to her parents, Robert and Jessie (Reid) Matthews.

Carole graduated from Bowie High School in Bowie, Maryland. Throughout her career, Carole worked as a bookkeeper for various construction companies, demonstrating her exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills. She married Bob (Robert) Harms on May 21, 2022, in a beautiful ceremony at Grace Church in Des Moines. Their love story was one of companionship and devotion, and their time together was a testament to the power of love.

Carole had a special fondness for flowers, with sunflowers being her favorite. Her garden was a testament to her nurturing spirit, and it bloomed with vibrant colors. Her heart also belonged to her cherished kitty, a companion that brought her joy and comfort.

In her leisure time, Carole found comfort in the art of quilting. She enjoyed reading, with a particular love for Christian literature, which strengthened her faith and provided her with a sense of purpose.

Carole was an incredibly loving Gammy to her many grandchildren. She loved to video chat to connect with them and also craft and color. She took every opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren. She loved her kids and grandchildren so incredibly much and always made sure that they knew that.

Carole's faith was a cornerstone of her life. Her faith was tested many times as she battled breast cancer for nearly 20 years, but she never let it define who she was. Carole was an active member of her church, where she devoted her time to serving and helping others. Her beautiful voice was warmly welcomed and always a joy to hear in church. Her passion for singing was a reflection of her deep connection to her faith and her desire to share its message of love and hope with others.

Carole is survived by her loving husband, Bob Harms of Winterset; her mother, Jessie Matthews of Maryland; her siblings, Bob (Janet) Matthews, Nancy Breslin, Richard Matthews, and Linda (Scott) Smith; and her children, Douglas (Nikki) Vogel of Altoona and their four daughters, Lily, Piper, Hope, and Hollyn, and Jessica (Brady) Stalter of Florida and their two sons, Finn and Noah; and her stepchildren, Bob (Eliza Shively) Harms of Kearney, Nebraska, Lynne (Dawes) Qualls of Des Moines, Lori Anderson (Jason) of Atlantic, and  Doug Harms (Brenda) of Primghar. Carole is also survived by her many nieces and nephews, step grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Matthews, Jr.

A memorial service for Carole will be held at 10:30 a.m., October 7, 2023 at the New Bridge Church in Winterset with a visitation taking place one hour prior beginning at 9:30 a.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the church. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.