Carol Dean Baessler

Carol Baessler, age 87, of Calumet Township, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 at Crown Point Christian Village under the loving care of Dunes Hospice. She is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Ronald W. Baessler. She is survived by: son, David (Linda) Baessler; siblings: Evan (Arlene) Gosser, Ed (Anna Lee) Duffie, Tim (Judy) Duffie, Brenda (Bill) Woodworth, Russ Duffie, Mark (Debbie) Duffie; grandchildren: Melany (Bruce) Carpenter, Alyssa Baessler, Ben (Jenica) Baessler, Holly (Adam) Cowgill and five additional grandchildren residing in Pennsylvania; beloved Hiya to eight great-grandchildren. She was a loving aunt and great aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Carol was also preceded in death by son, Douglas Baessler; parents Loren and Lela Gosser and “adoptive” parents Monroe and Shirley Duffie; sister and brother-in-law Eloise and Raymond Caudill.

Carol was born on January 5, 1936, on Gosser Ridge in Russell Springs, Kentucky. After the death of her father at age 10, Carol, her mother, and siblings moved to Gary, Indiana. When her mother died at the age of 15, she was lovingly taken in by the Duffie family who took care of her and her sister, and made them a part of their family. One of Carol’s first and, arguably her most rewarding job, was working as a waitress at Miner-Dunn on Ridge Road in Gary. This is where she met her husband Ron, when he would come in and leave her silver dollars as a tip. Carol began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at Calumet Baptist School. She then became Preschool Director at the Hobart YMCA, where she loved having the kids perform a circus every year as she transformed herself into “Dotsie” the clown. Carol was also a school bus driver for a number of schools, including Griffith Schools and John Amico Beauty School in Merrillville. Carol was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church in Gary and a current member of HopeSpring Church in Griffith.

Carol was a very social woman. She loved to “run the roads” and stopped by any garage sale or resale shop she came across. If she wasn’t on the road, you would find her on the phone catching up with all of her friends and finding out “what’s new”. However, her most beloved role in life was being a great grandma. She loved watching them run and play outside and was always up for “the next big one” (party). 

Carol was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, hiya and aunt and will truly be missed by all whose lives she touched.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Flourish Church, 3935 Cleveland Street, Gary, IN 46408. Friends are invited to meet with the family for a time of visitation from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. with funeral service to follow at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Brandon Matthews officiating. Carol will be laid to rest privately at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Crown Point, IN.

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper-Michael Kuiper-Vass by calling 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

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