July 11, 1937 – February 2, 2026
Carrie Dale Kirschbaum, 88, of Mason City, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 2, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, surrounded by the love of her family.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Faith United Church of Rockwell, 303 Monroe Street, Rockwell, Iowa. A memorial visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Carrie Dale Young was born on July 11, 1937, in Clear Lake, Iowa, the only daughter of Milton Young and Jennie (Christensen) Young. She grew up in Clear Lake, where she formed lifelong friendships and graduated with the Class of 1955. On May 25, 1957, she married her best friend and partner in life, Gary Paul Kirschbaum. Their marriage was filled with laughter and teamwork as they raised four children together and built a home centered on love and family.
Carrie devoted many years to her family as a stay-at-home mother, a role she took seriously and carried out with dedication. She was known for being firm when necessary, fair always, and endlessly loving. Her home was a place of structure, comfort, and care, where her children always knew they mattered. In 1981, Carrie joined Sears in the hardware department, proving that her determination and work ethic matched anyone’s. She worked there for 27 years, retiring more than once, before officially retiring in 2008.
In retirement, Carrie kept herself busy in all the ways she loved most. She enjoyed crocheting, mending, and creating with her hands, often putting care into things that made life a little better for others. She loved browsing rummage sales, curling up with a good book, and challenging herself with puzzles. Her flowers were a point of pride, and her holiday decorations brought joy to anyone who walked through her door. Feisty, spirited, and never one to shy away from speaking her mind, Carrie carried her strength and spark right to the very end.
Above all, Carrie treasured time with her family. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting events when she was able and could often be found cheering from the stands. Her love extended across generations, and her legacy lives on in the many lives she helped shape through her guidance, care, and unwavering presence.
Carrie is survived by her best friend of nearly 69 years, Gary Kirschbaum; her children, Dawn (Don) Hansen, Tami (Denny) Gerdom, Kim (Mike) Arndt, and Mike (Mary Kaye) Kirschbaum; her grandchildren, Ryan (Traci) Hansen, Scott (Bria) Hansen, Jennifer (Shanda) Hansen, Katherine Walker, Sunni (Jim) Lensing, Ashley (Ryan) Trousdale, Lauren (Jeff) Anderson, Christopher (Steven) Bourbon, Travis (Jordan) Arndt, Dylan Arndt, Amanda (Josh) Dannen, and Alex (Taylor) Kirschbaum; twenty five great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and her special friend, Karen Bernhardt.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Jennie Young; her brothers, Donald, Milton Jr., and Russ Young; and her beloved dog, Kobe.
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