Carolyn ‘Kay’ Harwood of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin peacefully passed away, being of sound mind, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital in Waukesha Wisconsin, on December 7, 2025, at the age of 86, surrounded by her beloved daughter Virginia ‘Ginny’, adored grandchildren, dearly loved sister Linda and her precious Sir Dudley (dog). In her final days, she was blessed with the comfort of those she loved most; their warmth, devotion and presence gave her peace.

Kay was born in Edgar, Nebraska, on October 5, 1939. She graduated from Edgar High School in 1957, sang for community funerals, crowned Miss Edgar. After graduation she relocated to Lincoln Nebraska working as a bookkeeper where she met her daughter Ginny’s, father, Urban J. Meloche II, who was stationed in Lincoln. They moved to and married (10 years) in Wisconsin in 1961.

While in Wisconsin she continued her daytime bookkeeping career and used her fast-typing skills to type for a local newspaper in West Allis, Wisconsin, during the evenings. She worked as an office manager for Uel ‘Butch’ Harwood and they married Sept 8, 1979. Kay and Butch owned and operated Viking Services Carpet & Blind Cleaning of Muskego, Wisconsin, for 35 years.

After the passing of her husband Butch she moved to Lake Dallas, Texas, where for six years she closely reunited herself with her three siblings (Robert ‘Bob’, Richard and Linda) after 58 years. In 2025, health concerns brought Kay back to Wisconsin living in Johnson Creek to be near Ginny.

Kay’s greatest treasure in life were her grandkids and great grandkids!! Hearing of their lives; work, pets, talents, accomplishments – she found joy in the small details. She always made a phone call on your birthday. She loved entertaining, being around her family and friends, she never came empty handed to a gathering. Kay was always dressed to the nines, loved pretty things, flowers, cardinals, bunnies, pelicans and Santas.

She enjoyed fishing on Lake Michigan, traveling in the motorhome, gambling and shopping. Kay looked forward to her football – ‘Da’ Bears being her favorite team. Willie Nelson – On the Road Again being her favorite song. Kay was willful, extremely sarcastic, always willing to speak her mind. She was also a very beautiful, thoughtful, caring, giving and loving woman. One couldn’t help but love her.

We’ll miss you greatly Mom, Grandma, Aunt Kay, Sissy, Kay.

Kay was born to Leo Nelson and Bernice (Schlachter) Nelson. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husbands Butch Harwood and Urban Meloche II, her niece Angela Durr (Nelson) and great nephew Spencer Nelson.

She is survived by her brothers Bob (Karyn), Richard (Donna) and her sister Linda Schoch (Nelson), her daughter Virginia (Meloche) & Todd Kubicek, grandchildren Veronica Kubicek & husband Maxwell Abrams, B. Kubicek, Bernice Kubicek and husband Matthew G. Finley, Rosalia Kubicek and fiancé Calvin Condo, Andrea Kremers (Kubicek) and Jakob, Julia and Victoria.

Great Grandma to Wilder and baby boy to be Abrams, Walter Kremers; nephews Robert, Godson, his wife Kathy, Mathew and Cynthia, Mark and Leslee, David and Alicia; nieces Michelle Dando (Kuhl), Sherrie McClain (Kuhl) and husband Kelly; Great-aunt to nephews Justin Dando, Samual, Andrew and Landon Nelson and Caleb Durr; Great-aunt to nieces Grace, Kathryn & Keeliegh Durr.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30pm CST at Hales Corners Lutheran Church, 12300 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners, WI 53130. Immediate family visitation 11:30 – 12:30, extended family and friend 12:30 – 1:30.

Procession and burial following service at Highland Memorial Cemetery, 14875 W Greenfield Avenue, New Berlin, WI 53151.

All family & friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Embassy Suites by Hilton, Milwaukee Brookfield, 1200 South Moorland Road, Brookfield, WI 53005.

A block of rooms has been reserved for out-of-town visitors under Kay Harwood which include bereavement rates at the Embassy Suites listed above.