Carol S. Poese

Elkhorn — Carol Sue Poese, 85, of Elkhorn, formerly of O'Neill, died Friday, April 25, 2025 at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha after a lengthy and courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

Memorial visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

A celebration of life service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the mortuary in O'Neill.

There will be a private family burial in the O'Neill Cemetery in O'Neill.

Memorials may be made to Hospice House (The Josie Harper Residence) or Prairie Care (The Susie Collins House) in Carol's name.

Carol was born in Camden, MO to James and Violet (Bradley) Claughton on Sept. 3, 1939. She grew up in Carrollton, MO, and graduated from Carrollton High School in 1957.  

After high school, she moved to Kansas City, MO where she lived with her sister Joyce and worked until she married Carlee Mathis on Nov. 17, 1962. Two daughters Michelle and Stephane were born to this union.  Carol moved to O'Neill in 1962 and lived there until 2021.

Community involvement was meaningful to Carol and during her years in O'Neill she volunteered with the United Methodist Church, Mrs. Jay Cees, Girl Scouts and O'Neill High School Booster Club. She belonged to the Holt County Extension Club, the O'Neill Antique Club and the O'Neill Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

Carol began working for O'Neill Public Schools in 1976 as a library aide. During her 26-year tenure at OPS she worked in the library and guidance office at the high school. Her final years at OPS were spent at the central office, retiring in 2001.  

After retiring Carol returned briefly to the workforce to serve as Holt County's first Emergency Manager where she secured many grants for equipment and services needed in the post-Sept. 11th world.

Carol married Gilbert Poese on March 29, 1985. Together Gil and Carol enjoyed traveling, hosting Husker football watch parties for their friends and participating in community activities.  

After Gilbert's passing, she moved to the Elk Ridge Independent Living community in Elkhorn in March of 2021 to be closer to family. There she found a great sense of community and purpose.  She chaired the Elk Ridge Welcome Committee, a group that actively recruits and welcomes new and prospective members of the community and helps them transition to a new phase in life.

Carol was a committed mother and grandmother who took great joy in the activities and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She was witty, loving and dedicated to helping others. She was always up for new adventures and she enjoyed traveling to new places. 

Her light shone brightly in this world and her presence will be deeply missed by her family, friends and the community she built to assist those around her. Her enduring spirit and tenacity will persist through the lessons and values she instilled in her children and grandchildren.

Carol is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Michelle (Mathis) and Mel McNea of McCook and Stephane (Mathis) and Mark VanderMeulen of Omaha; five grandchildren Alex (Amanda) McNea, Molly (Morgan) Schilling, Brett (Danielle) McNea, Cooper VanderMeulen (fiancé Casey Koenig) and Hogan VanderMeulen; eight great-grandchildren Rowyn, Lincoln, Mayven, Carsyn and Nolan McNea, Drake Walker and Oaklyn Schilling and Colter McNea; one brother John Claughton; one sister Joyce Lynn; and many other nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gilbert L. Poese, parents John Claughton and Violet Claughton Twenter, one brother James Claughton and one sister Judy Sidenstricker.