Carole builds a family
Mindee Melanie Renee and Eric
On Valentine's Day in 1954, Carole married Maurice Fredrick Wolven. To their union, they brought four beautiful children. Carole would remember the sagacious words of her grandfather: “If you fail to have children, you missed life.” Carole says, “My children were the love of my life, and a blessing from God.’
Carole endures hard times
CAROLE WITH Melanee Renee Mindee AND ERic
Between 1965 to 1968, Carole’s life would change, and she would come to see deep despair. Her marriage became abusive and her husband neglectful. Carole struggled to care for her four children - daughters Melanee, Renee, Mindee and son Eric - after their father had abandoned them without warning.
Carole has support
Carole Melanee Eric Renee and Mindee
With the help of the elders at the Northeast Church of Christ in Indianapolis - as well as the staff of the Shultz-Lewis Children’s Home in Valparaiso - Carole raised and nurtured her children. She says, “God strengthened the love they had for each other, and nothing could break their bond.”
Carole leaves Indiana
Melanee Mindee Eric Carole Max Michelle Renee and Michael
In 1982 - wanting to be near her only grandchild, who lived in Omaha, Nebraska - Carole left Indiana and moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, where at the age of 46 she started a new life. Her husband, Max Eldon Obrecht. died in September 1999.
Carole starts a new career and retires
CAROLE OBRECHT
Carole's daughter Renee and her husband Mike helped Carole find employment as an administrator for the Creighton University School of Medicine, where she worked from 1982 to 2003. In 1989, she attended Metro Tech College in Omaha, got an associate broker license and retired from Creighton University in January 2003.
Carole gets life changing news
HAPPIER TIMES FOR Carole in Orleans with friends
On November 22, 2010, three days before Thanksgiving, Carole's life changed forever. She had packed to travel to Indianapolis to see family, but suddenly felt sick. She thought she might have the flu and told her son Eric she might stay home. Carole's doctor said she had a serious illness and only two weeks to live!
Carole has many reasons to live
CAROLE'S FAMILY - CHRISTMAS 2009
Doctors said she had methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - an infection that had spread throughout her body. Carole was told to contact her family and prepare, but God had other plans. After forty-three days in the hospital, she recovered. The doctors were baffled, calling Carole "the miracle patient."
Carole is on a mission
CAROLE OBRECHT IS JOYFUL
With this new lease on life, Carole says she experienced "a fountain of gratitude in my soul." She began composing words with melodies - most of them in the broad category of congregational songs. Since her recovery, Carole has written more than 500 religious’ songs.
Carole's daughter has two degrees
MELANEE WOLVEN MAXWELL
Carole’s children grew up in church and became successful professionals with families of their own. Melanee earned a degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska and a law degree from Creighton University.
Carole's daughter Renee graduates from Westpoint
CAROLE RENEE WRIGHT KYSAR AND RENEE'S DAUGHTER MICHELLE
Renee was her high school’s valedictorian and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from West Point, and would later attend Georgia Tech, where she earned a master’s degree in operations research.
Carole's son grows up and serves his country
STEVEN ERIC WOLVEN
Eric received his degree in education - magna cum laude - from Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri. He served seven years in the Marines.
Carole's youngest Mindee Wolven breaks barriers
MINDEE WOLVEN
Mindee, Carole’s youngest, served in the United States Navy for 22 ½ years, working her way up to the rank of commissioned officer. She was among the first group of women to serve on the nuclear aircraft carrier the Eisenhower - and earned a degree in information systems for management from St. Leo University.
The grandkids
GEORGE MICHAEL MAXWELL
Today, Carole enjoys watching old classic movies, reading, going out to restaurants with friends, writing new songs, and spending time with her grandchildren. This is Melanee’s son George Michael Maxwell.
More grandkids
These are Carole's other grandchildren, Jessica, Alexis, Christine, with Carole's daughter Renee and her husband, John Joy.
Grandkids and great- grandkids
This is Carole's granddaughter Michelle Aldrich with Carole's great-grandsons Caleb, Benjamin, and David.
I am very grateful
WRIGHT KYSAR WITH HIS DAUGHTER CAROLE
Carole says, “It has been a wonderful journey and a blessing from God. My goal is to share these beautiful hymns of praise with others to bring glory to our loving Father.”