Carla Guildner, age 72 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at her home.
A celebration of life memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Picha Funeral Home in Lake Delton, WI from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. with a time for Words of Remembrance beginning at 3:30 P.M.
Carla was born July 15, 1952 in Madison, Wisconsin, to the proud parents of Frederick and Carol (Hagerty) Krueger. She graduated from LaFollette High School in Madison, Wisconsin, and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, where she met and married her first husband, William "Bill" Jabs. They moved to Janesville, where they welcomed their treasured daughter, Michelle, and then to the Madison area where they welcomed their beloved son, Michael.
Always fascinated with the latest technology, Carla built a successful career in various IT roles with the State, mainly in programming, training, and IT support. The majority of her career was spent at the Department of Justice where she made lifelong friends - and met her future sister-in-law, Dorothy, who set her up with the love of her life of thirty years: her very own "farmer in the (Wisconsin) Dells", Grant Guildner.
Carla loved her new life farming the land with Grant, gardening, cooking, canning and being in nature. Her new home allowed her to spend more time outside, developing her passion for photography. She and her sister Cori started a professional photography business, where they spent countless hours together, looking for the best shots and capturing memories.
Carla cherished her time in Canada with Grant, starting with their first trip with her step-children, Becky and David, where they fished for a week in a tiny aluminum boat, catching only one fish. From that point on, they spent many quiet years fishing together. Carla won a "Master Angler Award" for her 29.5" walleye, and her picture is still hanging in the Northern Ontario Sportfishing Centre.
Nothing could outshine her love of her family and her friends. Carla spent every minute she could with her children, grandchildren, family, and friends. She was the best "love present" giver, the most creative game player, and always found new ways to surprise us with fun adventures. She loved playing Wordle and cribbage with her family, and she beat Candy Crush so many times they had to keep adding new levels.
Carla was the sunshine - she radiated her warmth, her light, her hope and her love upon us every day.
Carla is survived by her loving husband Grant, her children and step-children, Michelle (Kurt) Grajkowski, Michael (Jennifer Howlett) Jabs, Becky (Marty) Platt, David (Joanie) Guildner, along with her sister Cori (Mike Wilson) Deyoe and her brothers and sisters in-law, Colleen (Dennis) Bindley, Barbara Labrenz, Dorothy (Glenn) Harvey, Terry (Bill) Rowe, and Heather Guildner. She is further survived by her grandchildren: Kara Grajkowski, Creighton Grajkowski, Grace Guildner, Morgan Platt, Addison Platt, Olivia Platt, and Marty IV Platt; her nieces and nephew Jenny Ocker, Jace Ocker and Jaelyn Ocker. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, her grandson, Caden Grajkowski and brothers-in-law Steven Guildner and Don Labrenz.