FORT ATKINSON - Carolyn N. (Dalton) Thomann, 79, of Fort Atkinson, died suddenly on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at St Mary’s Hospital in Madison after a brief infection.

She was born on November 13, 1946, in Monroe, the second child of six and only daughter of Robert and Norine (Barney) Dalton.

As her family owned and operated restaurants in southwestern Wisconsin, Carolyn attended schools in Black River Falls, Prairie du Chien, Potosi, and graduated from Cassville High School in 1965. Carolyn enjoyed sports and worked hard in the restaurants and had a paper route. She obtained a Bachelor of Education Degree, majoring in English and Library Sciences, from UW-Platteville, after working at the A & W and student teaching in Monroe. Her career started as a librarian for one year in the Delavan Public Schools.

After meeting her husband at dances in Green County, Carolyn and Alfred were married on August 9, 1969, at St Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, WI. They would make the town their home and were blessed with one son, Rodger, on August 11, 1970.

She returned to her career in 1971 at Palmyra-Eagle School District where she was librarian at Eagle Elementary, Instructional Materials Center (IMC) Director at the PEMS/PEHS, and District Library Media Specialist / Coordinator. During that time, she obtained Master of Education Degrees in Library Sciences from UW-Madison and Curriculum and Instruction from UW-Whitewater. To maintain her teaching licenses beyond her lifelong English and Library licenses, she also obtained many credits from Kent State in Ohio and others in Wisconsin. She was active in national and statewide professional organizations, lead several student groups locally and statewide, was an active leader in the WEA and local union, serving as president, negotiator, and in other roles. Carolyn retired after 40 years in 2011 from PEASD.

Interests of Carolyn included reading; history and current events; education; photography, video, and technology, gardening; collecting teddy bears, lighthouses, angels, and owls; attending fairs and community events, sports – especially the Olympics (skating, gymnastics, swimming, track & field, and more); women’s basketball, volleyball, and track & field; Wisconsin’s Brewers, Packers, and Bucks; and college and high school teams from the schools she attended, taught at, and those affiliated with family and friends. Carolyn was very generous with her time, talents, and treasure to assist others. She also loved to travel, having been to all 50 states, Australia, Canada, and nine countries in Europe. The best trips were with students, friends, and family or spending time visiting with family and friends.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of 56 years, Alfred P. Thomann of Fort Atkinson; son, Rodger P. Thomann, of Fort Atkinson; brothers Eugene (Kathleen) Dalton of Georgetown, Texas; Terry (Sharon) Dalton of Akron, Ohio; Dennis Dalton of Orlando, Florida; Edward (Tracy) Dalton of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; brothers-in-law Raymond Thomann of Belleville and Leo Thomann of Monticello, and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, other relations, and many good friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert, February 4, 1977, and Norine, January 7, 2005; brother Daniel Dalton, March 21, 2017, brother-in-law Marvin Thomann, November 24, 2025; sister-in-law Marcia Thomann, July 3, 2022; and nephew David Powers, October 20, 2024.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, January 23, at 11 a.m. at Christ the King / St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Victor Catholic Church 1760 14th St, Monroe, with Fr Chahm Gahng and Fr. Bill Nolan co-celebrants. Inurnment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 22, from 4 to 6 p.m, followed by a celebration of life until 7 pm for those wishing to share any memories, each.at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 1008 Madison Av., Fort Atkinson; and at the church from 10 a.m. until time of the Mass.

The celebration of life and mass will hopefully be livestreamed and recorded. While an exact link is not yet available contact the Nitardy Funeral Home at https://www.altogetherfuneral.com/funeral-cremation/wisconsin/fort-atkinson/nitardy-funeral-homes-fort-atkinson/winif.html, the church at https://www.stclaregreencounty.org/staff-2, or Rodger at [email protected] and it will be shared when available.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in support of her passions in education and learning, equality and freedom, health, nature, animals, those less fortunate, or another remembrance of your choice. The family would also like to establish a scholarship in her name to honor the thousands of students she cared for and helped educate over 41 years.

The family wishes to thank the Fort Atkinson EMS, Fort Atkinson Hospital ER team, and the Madison St Mary’s ICU and surgery teams, chaplain, and Fr Pat for their efforts to help Carolyn.