Obituary

Carmen Gail (Dohler) Groe passed away on September 30, 2022, at 48 years of age.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Barry Groe; daughter, Emma Groe; son, Zachary Groe; father, Royal Dohler; sisters, Tracy Stenseth and Dawn Dohler; step-mother, Monika Dohler; Scooby, and many friends and students. She is remembered for her kind and positive spirit, being a fierce advocate for the students she interacted with, and always “messing up” the family photos. This was probably a way to spend more time with and hug the people that were in the photos.

Carmen was born on October 29, 1973, to Royal Dohler and the late Barbara (McNutt) Dohler. Saint Ansgar is where they called home and helped engrain all the positive characteristics we remember of Carmen. She grew up playing multiple sports with her friends and being very involved in 4-H, which led to multiple blue ribbons and a whole bunch of fair trips. During Carmen’s junior summer in high school, her path crossed with Barry and it was love at first sight for both of them. She graduated with the Class of 1992 from Saint Ansgar High School.
Carmen started college at the University of Iowa, majoring in pre-physical therapy. Barry was three states away and eventually persuaded Carmen to move to Livonia, Michigan. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Occupational Therapy. Work followed for them both and time marched on. It is hard to believe, but it took seven years for them to tie the knot after their first meeting. They finally did on August 30, 1997.
The family continued to grow with Emma being born in 2001 and Zachary in 2004 in Livonia, Michigan. The family moved multiple times, from Livonia, Michigan, to Hibbing, Minnesota, and finally landed in Charleston, West Virginia. Carmen always made the moves as easy as possible for the kids and proceeded to build three homes to make sure everyone was safe and welcome. She also had to start over with the jobs she found in all three states that the family moved to, but she made it look easy.

Carmen enjoyed being with her family, loved to travel, and especially loved watching her children excel at what they loved. She always said “I am your parent and not your friend,” but was always there with a shoulder and an ear. The transition to friend might have been cut short, but she will always watch her children do what they love while having the best seat in the house.

Carmen is now at peace, warm, pain-free, and enjoying all things gluten that were hard to give up the last couple of years. She is saying “Hi” to her grandparents, Millard and Virginia McNutt; step-grandmother, Barbara; grandparents, Jerry and L. Grace Dohler; mother, Barbara; Barry’s parents, Eugene and Janice Groe; sister-in-law, Pamela Groe; and her first child, Tanner (dog). There is so much more that should be said, but what Carmen did was make the world brighter. She left a lasting positive impact on everyone that ran into her because that is just the person she was. “We love and miss you already, Carmen!”

Memorial Service will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Barlow Bosnall Funeral Home. Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 23, 2022, at Southridge Driving Range and Larobi’s Pizza. An additional celebration of life will take place in Iowa in December.

You may send condolences to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.