Carol Marlene Dombrock

A gathering for friends and family to celebrate the life of Carol Dombrock will take place 1-3 PM; Sunday, May 23rd at Pioneer Park in Newport, Minnesota.

Carol “Marlene” Dombrock of Pine City passed quietly in her sleep Saturday, December 26, 2020 at the age of 81.

A loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jim. She is survived by son, Tom Dombrock and his wife, Patti; four grandchildren Alek, Pat, Elizabeth and Anne; daughter Linda Vuicich and her husband Danny; grandchildren Amanda and Ben; son Ted and husband Juan Carlos.

August 3^rd, 1957, James Henry Dombrock married Carol Marlene Kelsey, a union that lasted over fifty years. They worked hard, raised three kids, had six grandchildren, and when Dad retired. they left Newport and moved to Pine City. That was a hard day for Mom, but she also knew it was a dream of Dad’s, and she would never stand in the way of his dream. Through it all, theirs was one of those marriages that grew stronger every day. It was obvious to all that knew them.

On July 5^th, 2014, we lost our Dad. It was a profound loss for all of us, but no one was more deeply affected than Mom. They’d been together for
fifty-six years. It didn’t take long for us to realize that when Dad passed, a big piece of Mom went with him. When trying to talk to her about it, either to cheer her up or “snap her out of it,” she’d reply, “You don’t get over it, you just get used to it”.

It’s not an easy thing to hear. Whenever we approached her about making some changes; taking on new hobbies, traveling, moving, it became a pat response, "You don’t get over it, you just get used to it.” It became a mantra, and more than once would cause you to throw up your hands and mutter, “Fine, wallow in it.” It sounds harsh—and it was—until you realized she wasn’t saying it to us, she was saying it to herself. Getting that through our heads wasn’t easy, but once we did, it was also easier to
understand.

Spending fifty-six years of your life bound to another person causes changes that aren’t easy to see, much less understand. She was bonded to Dad, bonded so deeply they’d become one person living in separate bodies here on Earth, but a single soul united for eternity. It’s not easy living life without half of your soul. So, Mom settled down and waited. She waited in a place she felt closest to Dad, having no intention of going anywhere until they were once again united. She waited until her kids were good, her grandchildren independent, and spoke to each and every one of us before laying down on Christmas Night, ready to see Dad.

We will miss her, but she left us able to find joy in that she is whole again.

A memorial visitation will be held for Carol: 1-3 PM on Friday, January 8, 2021 at Swanson Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

A Memorial Service and interment will be held at a later date.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel

www.FuneralAndCremationService.com