Carol Lynn Bohl

Carol Bohl died peacefully in her sleep on April 17. She was the most famous woman during the most idyllic time on the world’s most beautiful island.

She met the first true love of her life in 1946 when her family moved from Detroit: Grosse Ile. In 1957, she met the second: Bob Bohl. These are the only two things she found completely flawless.

As a young woman with flaming red hair, she rode a chestnut mare to Western Horseman events with her future husband, Bob. Later, after he died, she drove a flaming red Mustang with a plate that said “Why Not” because “He’d think I look good in it.”

Nearly every young person on the island could recognize her through her work with the Grosse Ile schools on the playground, in the cafeteria, and later in the library. She hosted many sleepovers, made a lot of brownies, was a Girl Scout Leader, a 4-H leader. And at least two homecoming floats were erected in her backyard.

She had a flair for hyperbolic storytelling and a healthy disregard for veracity. She was proud to be the sole survivor of the Titanic and often showed the Captain’s bell she saved before the vessel sank. Sticking to the facts was not her style.

As her health declined, you could find her sitting in her red recliner watching birds and deer through the bay window. Most people who drove by would stop to chat. She loved a visit and made friends with her mowing crew, the UPS driver, and any delivery person. Her front door was always open.

She was a GI landmark, deeply disturbed by change, who loved to reminisce. She rejected electronics - except for Facebook (which you probably already know) and enjoyed any movie or video that involved horses, dogs, Toby Keith, or Kevin Costner.

In 2013, she received a new burst of life with a donor kidney which she babied for nearly 11 years until she wore it out. Her doctors considered her a “medical miracle” for surviving the many health challenges she faced during her last few years of life. It was her fighter-spirit that sustained her to the end.

She was irascible and sassy and fun-loving and big-hearted and forgiving. She leaves us with many great memories.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Bohl; her sister, Janet Joseph; her son, Robert Bohl Jr.; and her great-grandson, Corey Miller. She is survived by her sisters Yvonne Bentley and Elaine Speck; her daughter, Cory (Bart) Thompson and their children Carol (Matthew) Thompson-Miller, Scott (Monica) Thompson, and Margaret Thompson; Joni Bohl and children Kaylee Bohl (Jerry Preston), Robert III (Sydney) Bohl, Daniel Bohl, and Samantha Bohl; and great-grandchildren Lucy Kuchenmeister-Thompson, Henry Thompson, Thomas Thompson, and Zora Miller.

Her family would like to thank everyone who brought her dinners, drove her to appointments, gave her books, and kept her socially active in the years when she was homebound. We would also like to thank her medical teams and caregivers. Your kindness and your listening ears helped her feel loved and important.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held on Monday, May 6 at 6:00 pm at Martenson Funeral Home on West Rd in Trenton, MI. The family will greet visitors and share stories prior to the service from 4:00-6:00.