Carolyn Kemper 'Cal' (Stoltze) Benepe

• 

Benepe, Carolyn "Cal" Kemper (Stoltze) Age 88, was called home by God on August 5, 2015. Carolyn died peacefully in the evening after a three month battle from complications of pneumonia and COPD with family in attendance at the time of her passing at The Gathering Hospice Center at Boutwell's Landing in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota. Preceded in death by her husband, Louis "Lou" Mason Benepe III; her son, John Robert Benepe; her parents, John Robert Stoltze and Grace Chetwood Bulkley Stoltze; her sisters, Elizabeth Bigelow Guthrie, Sarah "Sallie" Obrien, Louise "Lesser" Stoltze; her brother, John Robert "Bob" Stoltze; and her grand-daughter Rachel Benepe. Carolyn is survived by her children, Louis Mason Benepe IV (Lynn Benepe), Michael Andrew Benepe (Kathy) and Christina Luce Benepe Tanttari (Sheldon Tanttari); and her grandchildren, Andrea Benepe, Jason Benepe, Adam Benepe (Jennifer), Ian Tanttari (Christan) and Ashley Benepe; and great grandchildren, Jonathan Benepe Bischoff, Vincent Tanttari, Cooper Benepe and Griffin Benepe. Carolyn Kemper Stoltze was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on February 3, 1927. The family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota around 1930. The Stoltze's later relocated to Afton, Minnesota on May's Lake. Carolyn lived in the St. Croix Valley area most of her life as she was an avowed "River Rat" and loved being around the river or her beloved May's Lake. Carolyn graduated from Summit School in St. Paul where she made lifelong friends. She attended Smith College until her marriage to Lou. Carolyn loved to travel. She had a wide variety of experiences ranging from an African Safari, greeting the Millennium from Australia, chasing Puffins, white-water rafting on the Snake, sailing on the Sea Cloud, avoiding icebergs and roaming nearly every inch of the British Isles with the Blythe Spirits group. Carolyn was very active with the National Society of Colonial Dames and served as a Regent and was deeply involved with the historic preservation of Gunston Hall. Carolyn loved music and the arts. Carolyn was a member of the New Century Club, and Thursday Club. She sang in the choir for 51 years at her church. Carolyn actively supported the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and The Science Museum of Minnesota, where she was a volunteer for many years in the Education dept., and the Anthropology and Paleontology labs. Some of her favorite times were working on several paleo. digs in Wyoming. Carolyn loved life, good food, good music and great friends and be missed by many. A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 10 at 2:00PM with a reception to follow at Ascension Episcopal Church, 214 3rd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Science Museum of Minnesota C.S. Benepe Memorial fund (to provide for scientific research and publications for the Paleontology Department), or the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Endowment Fund.

Published on August 12, 2015