WAUWATOSA - Carol Winneferd Debbink Wehrley, age 97, passed away of natural causes at Harwood Place on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  Carol was born on December 12, 1922 to Henry and Winneferd Debbink.  She attended Wauwatosa High School, graduated as January 1941 Valedictorian, earned a B.S. in Secondary Education at Milwaukee State Teachers College (now UWM) and graduated with honors.  She was the first female president of the MSTC Student Commonwealth.

Carol and Doren married in 1945.  After graduating from Marquette Dental School under the Navy V-12 program he was stationed in Florida where she taught science.  After moving back to Milwaukee, Steven was born in 1947 and Jean in 1951.  In '52 and '53 Doren served as a medical officer attached to the 92 Artillery Battalion in Korea.  Following the armistice the family reunited in Japan.  Carol Ann was born in 1954 and 3 year old Mariko (later Miko) became part of the family the same year.

Following a year as a dental officer in Japan, Doren and the family moved back to the states and purchased a house on 68th Street and Wisconsin Ave.  Carol lived in that house for 64 years before moving to Assisted Living at Harwood Place, Wauwatosa.

Carol worked as bookkeeper for Doren's dental office, at Lutheran Social Services and later, as the secretary to the Dean of the Marquette Dental School.  She belonged to the Wauwatosa PTA, Milwaukee Bonsai Society and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.  Carol loved plants and flowers.  She was known for her skill at producing Japanese flower arrangements.  She cultivated a rock garden grown from small boulders collected across the country from each family vacation.  Carol enjoyed visiting with family and friends by email and Facebook.  The family hosted AFS students Beto from Brazil and Ted from Ethiopia.  She always appreciated learning and followed the news carefully.  She faithfully completed each daily crossword puzzle.  Carol was passionate about social justice and interested in many causes.  Even in her last years she could pen a well worded letter of protest when needed.

Carol was preceded in death by parents Henry, Winneferd and step-mother Dorothy (Cupery) Debbink, her husband of 51 years Doren F. Wehrley DDS (73), daughter Jean Louise (21 months), Miko (Randy) Clitherow (43), sister Mary Janice Younger (79), brothers David (57) and John (95).  She is survived by sister Martha (Beld), sisters-in-law Nancy Debbink and Rita Sorenson, son Steven (Patricia) Wehrley, daughter Carol Ann (James) Meverden; grandchildren Bode (Katie) Clitherow, Kate (Nathan) Ewings, Cara Meverden, Brooke (Greg) Daniels, Michael Wehrley, David (Melissa) Meverden and great-grandchildren Boden, Niko, Lyla, Ava, Dylan, McKenna, Liam and Seth.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date with Brett Funeral Home handling arrangements.  The family thanks the caregivers at Harwood Place for their dedication.  In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the Zeidler Center or a tree planted in Carol's memory.