Carol Sue VanGampleare, 79, of Brooklyn, IA passed away on September 22, 2026, at UnityPoint-Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home in Brooklyn, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home in Brooklyn, Iowa. A graveside service will be held following the funeral at Calvary Cemetery in Victor, Iowa.

Carol was born on December 25, 1946, in South English, Iowa to Clarence Sr. and Helen (Grimm) Bair. Carol was one of twelve siblings. On March 14, 1970, Carol was united in marriage to Vernon VanGampleare in Brooklyn, Iowa. From this union, the couple had a daughter, Theresa.

Carol worked for Brooklyn 80 from 1973 to 1995. She then worked at Farmer Nick’s from 1995 to 2009.

Carol loved collecting Elvis’s memorabilia. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, word search books, baking cookies and pies, and collecting gadgets/toys. She liked watching pro wrestling, especially, WWE Monday Night Raw, and her westerns, and going out to eat. She will be remembered for never forgetting to call her grandchildren and other family members on their birthdays.

She is survived by her children, Cindy (Jeff) Wade, and Theresa (Dave) Slaymaker, longtime friend, Angela (Jerry Jr.) Slaymaker, her granddaughters, Nicole (Jason) Ayers, Amber (Tyler) Gent, Hilary Weiss, Cheryl (Eli) Hoskey, Shaylee (Alex) Kalambaheti, her special grandson, Shane Slaymaker, her great-grandchildren, Emily, Jerica, Noah, Tenly, Teron, Falon, Maddox, Melvin, Laramie, and Cade, and her siblings, Clarence Jr., Ronnie, Larry, Kenny, Keith, Dennis, Russell, David, Colleen, and Kathleen.

She is preceded by her parents, Clarence Sr., and Helen, her husband, Vernon, her son Danny, and her sister Barb.