Carolynn W. Rowell

Carolynn Rowell, 83, of Cameron Park, California, peacefully passed away on December 14th, 2023. She was the first born child of Signe and Harold Wahlstrom, on April 30th, 1940, in Highland Park, Michigan.

In 1945, her family moved to Bruno, Minnesota, where she spent her elementary school years, before moving to Babbitt, Minnesota, in 1956. She attended Ely High School and graduated in 1958. Her college years were spent at Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, Minnesota, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education, in 1962.

It was during her college years, in 1960, when she met the love of her life, David Rowell, through personal friends. After college, David accepted an engineering job at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California, while Carolynn stayed behind to finish working at a paid teaching position for the school year. When David came home that year for Christmas, he proposed to Carolynn, and on July 27th, 1963, in Babbitt, Minnesota, they were happily married. After the wedding they both returned to start their married life in Long Beach, California. David and Carolynn welcomed their son, Breck, into their family on May 7th, 1964, and with baby in tow, moved into a brand new house, in Garden Grove, California, in 1965. Their family was complete when Brenda was born on August 24th, 1967.

Carolynn had a love of teaching young children and a strong desire to help them succeed educationally and after many years as a stay-at-home mom, she began her teaching career. She taught a few years as a kindergarten teacher at St. Timothy School in Lakewood, California and went on to teach first grade at Bethany Lutheran Church, in Long Beach, California, until her retirement.

By early 2000, David retired from his engineering career and Carolynn from her years of teaching young children in the community. During retirement they spent many years traveling the world together with family and close friends. Some of the amazing places they were fortunate enough to travel internationally to included Canada, England, Austria, Germany, Panama Canal, Iceland and several Scandinavian countries. They also traveled across the United States and had the opportunity to see almost every state before they were unable to travel anymore due to health reasons. Retirement also included time spent with family, especially, grandchildren, Sean and Megan Campeau, who kept them busy traveling to Northern California for holidays, school activities, sports and church events.

Carolynn leaves behind her son, Breck Rowell and daughter Brenda Campeau (Tom Campeau), and two grandchildren, Sean and Megan Campeau. She also leaves behind her brother, Paul Wahlstrom, and many wonderful friends and neighbors that she cherished throughout her life. Preceding her to heaven were her parents, Harold and Signe Wahlstrom, her sister Sylvia Wahlstrom, in-laws Bob and Dorothy Rowell, and husband of 56 years, David Rowell.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401