Remembering Carol

Carol Janet Steimer Bailey

Steimer Bailey, Carol Janet (1943-2006) age 63, passed away on October 14, 2006 after a long battle with breast cancer. She grew up in Jackson, MN and was raised by her loving parents, Lola and Lloyd Widdifield. She attended Macalester College, received her nursing degree, and worked at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Although she found great pleasure in working in orthopedics, she was eventually drawn to Hennepin Technical College where she taught photography and media production for over 34 years.

Education was important to Carol. She was a teacher, as well as a life long learner and in 2001 she received a Master's degree from St. Mary's University in educational technology. She spent her remaining career teaching professional development skills to other teachers throughout Minnesota. In addition to her full time profession, Carol was passionate about auto racing. She was the official track photographer at Brainerd International Raceway for 28 years and ran her own photography business, CJS Racing Photos.

Carol is survived by her husband, Rand E. Bailey, her companion and love for the last 25 years; and her devoted daughter and friend, Shanda L. Steimer. She will long be remembered by her family and friends for her humor, compassion, kindness and enthusiasm to discover and understand new people, places and things.

The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the individual members of the 2nd Floor Post Surgical Nursing Unit, and the Pain Management Team at St. John's Hospital for the compassionate and attentive care she received during the final week of her life. The family is honoring Carol's request to be cremated and have no funeral service. However, there will be a memorial service on May 19th, 2007 to celebrate the amazing, beautiful and wonderful person that she was to all those who knew and loved her. The memorial will take place at her home in Spring Valley, WI. Information and details about the service will be posted on this website, or you can contact the family at (715) 688-2482. Memorials can be made to the Carol Steimer Bailey Scholarship Fund, Hennepin Technical College Foundation, 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 or at HTC Foundation. Published in the Star Tribune and in the Pioneer Press on 10/29/2006.