Carol Joy (Kiefer) Schlatter went home to be with her Lord Jesus on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 after a full life of 87 years on this earth.  Carol was born on September 15, 1934, in Cherokee, Oklahoma, to Lawrence & Laura (Schafer) Kiefer.  She grew up in Burlington, Oklahoma, along with her brother, Charles Kiefer.  Carol and her family were active members of the Burlington Apostolic Christian Church.  She attended Burlington Public School where she excelled in basketball, softball, and tennis, as well as being an outstanding soloist in several music productions.  Her Oklahoma roots were very deep and she remained loyal to her beloved state throughout her life.

Carol moved to Chicago to work as an administrative secretary for the World Book Company.  While in Chicago, she was also a student at Moody Bible Institute.  She then accepted a position at a rural Christian mission in northern Alabama working with poor families.  It was there that she happened to meet her future Hoosier husband, Allen Schlatter.  Carol and Allen were married on January 29, 1956 in Burlington, Oklahoma.

Carol & Allen initially lived in Goshen, IN where Carol managed their home while Allen pursued a teaching career.  It was in Goshen where their first two children, Mark and Stephen, were born.  During this time, Carol served as secretary at their church and was a featured singer on the church's daily radio broadcast.  After a short stint living in Winona Lake, they moved to the Schlatter family farm in Leo, where Carol managed their home while Allen continued as a school teacher.  It was there that two additional children, Janna and Kurt, were born.  During the ensuing years in Leo, Carol developed skills as a master vegetable and flower gardener, and assisted with the family farming operation.

Carol & Allen served in leadership roles for several Ft. Wayne area churches, including being youth ministers for Harvester Avenue Missionary Church.   She maintained her music ministry as a featured singer on the "Tower of Strength" radio broadcast from Harvester Avenue Missionary Church, as a choir member and soloist at Grabill Missionary Church, and as a soloist for several evangelistic campaigns with her husband, Allen.  When Allen eventually became Pastor at Westwood Fellowship in Woodburn, Carol contributed to the ministry through her singing, as well as serving as a mentor to young moms in the MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) program. Carol & Allen were also invited to participate in several international mission trips, traveling to such countries as Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Venezuela.

Carol leaves behind her husband of 65 years, Allen Jay Schlatter; children, Mark (Koleen), Stephen (Christine), Janna (Randy) Worthman, and Kurt; 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, and two unborn children.

You are invited to a memorial celebration of Carol's life at Grabill Missionary Church (13637 State Street, Grabill, IN) on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 11 am with visitation beginning at 9:30 am.  A livestream of the celebration service will be available on the GMC Funerals channel at YouTube.com.  Burial will be in the Old Leo Cemetery, Leo, IN.

Memorials may be given in Carol's honor to Grabill Missionary Church - P.O. Box 279 Grabill, IN 46741 or Christian Community Health Care - P.O. Box 128 Grabill, IN  46741.