Carol Jean Bredberg

Carol Jean Bredberg passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on November 4, 2025. Carol Jean was the beloved wife of John H. Bredberg to whom she was married for more than 73 years. Loving daughter of Francis & Marie (Noorgaard) Faber of Excelsior, Minnesota, and devoted daughter-in-law to Beryl & Cornell Bredberg of Sacramento, California.

Loving mother of Douglas & wife Patty Andres, Donald & wife Stephanie Bredberg, and John Francis Bredberg (deceased). Devoted grandmother to Philip & wife Lauren Bredberg, Mitchell & wife Megan Bredberg, Emily Bredberg & partner Corey Backer, Kayla Bredberg and devoted great-grandmother to Charlotte Ann Bredberg, Isabella Marie Bredberg, Lydia Louise Bredberg, and Matthew McGrath Bredberg. Sister to James Faber (deceased), Mary (Faber) Enger, Bonnie (Faber) & Paul Motzkus (deceased), and Daniel & Colleen Faber. Sister-in-law to deceased family members Eric & Molly Bredberg, Alice (Bredberg) & George Faubus, and Brian Bredberg. Aunt to Kim Enger, Kathy (Enger) & Mark Hall, Robert Bredberg & wife Grace, Ryan Bredberg & Shelly Johnson, Debra Bredberg, Kathy (Faubus) Peterson, Karen (Faubus) Valentine, and Wendy Faubus. Her close friends included Joy & Lowell Barden, Rita Stratton, Diane Sundquist, Deena Lange, Harriet & Art Zander, Oleda & Harlowe Lange, Shirley Griffin, Doris & Charles Evans, and Elaine & Harvey Ganong.

Those that knew Carol Jean will always remember her smile, her genuine interest in others, her remarkable recall of personal details of those she knew, and her wonderful thank-you notes where every detail of an event or encounter were recalled. If you were among Carol's friends, it may be you had no better friend.

Carol Jean attended Hamline University, St Paul, MN, intent on becoming an elementary school teacher. Instead, after college and marriage to John Bredberg, she worked as an accounting tech at Allis Chalmer's Tractor Division, using the early version of the IBM 360 punch card computer.

Three sons born early in her marriage confirmed a focus on being a mother and devoted wife. She became involved with the United Methodist Church as a Sunday School teacher and church organist/pianist, where she accompanied the choir, soloists, and the congregation. In those years, Carol Jean found an inner gift; she could play by ear a song or musical score from a single hearing and in a choice of keys. Many will remember Carol emerging from movies such as "Out of Africa," and returning home to play the film's theme song from memory ... a feat she often repeated. Her musical talent blossomed in high school where she learned to play the harp for Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School orchestra, and earned first chair honors as the school's harpist. Her musical talents overshadowed her talent with freehand life drawing sketches in pencil and charcoal, which she taught and shared with her young sons.

Carol Jean and husband John Bredberg were lifelong bridge players, often in standing social gatherings that included dear friends Rita & Carl Stratton, Kay & Lyle Dorow, Janina & Robert Zamis, Michael Rottiger, and Beverly & Russell Faye. An early passion for Carol Jean was square dancing, where she met her husband.

Carol Jean loved to travel. Besides many train trips on the "Milwaukee Road" railroad back to Minneapolis, MN, to see her family, other car trips with husband & sons traveled out west to see national parks while vacationing in Sacramento, CA, and Denver, CO, areas. In their retirement years, Carol Jean and John traveled to Ireland, Branson, MO, the Dakotas, Orlando, FL, and many places in between. A special event in 2022 gathered their family together in Lake Geneva, WI, to celebrate Carol & John's 70th Wedding Anniversary.  Early in their married life, with her husband, Carol Jean lived and traveled throughout the U.S., having been raised in Minneapolis, MN, with moves to Milwaukee & Wauwatosa, WI, Boston, MA, Cincinnati, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Richardson, TX, Greendale, WI, and ultimately Village Manor Park in West Allis, WI.

A gathering was held at Village Manor Park, attended by family present during Carol Jean's passing.  Extended family members gathered on November 18 to celebrate the life of Carol Jean.  On November 26 at 4pm, an Ash Casting service and memorial consecration was held at Rotunda Circle in Boerner Botanical Garden at Greendale's Whitnall Park.  Carol Jean's Inurnment is planned for the Spring of 2026 at Saranac Cemetery in Saranac, Michigan at the Andres-Bredberg plot.