Carol Jean (Jawort) Fox
May 6, 1939 – May 22, 2025
Carol Jean (Jawort) Fox, beloved mother, grandmother, educator, and community volunteer, passed away peacefully at Westminster Village, Bloomington, Illinois, leaving behind a legacy of service, learning, and love.
Born on March 6, 1939, in Iola, Wisconsin, to Leonard and Hazel Jawort, Carol was raised on the family’s dairy farm, an upbringing that instilled in her a deep appreciation for hard work, family, and the land.
She went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in Home Economics/Nutrition and later earned her Masters in Nutrition and passed her registered dietitian exam, paving the way for a lifelong career in education and public health.
Carol shared 65 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Donald J. Fox, until his passing in 2023. Together, they raised three sons, Mark (Kari) of Webster, Wisconsin, John (Kristine) of Ada, Mississippi, and Paul (Rebecca) of Elgin, Illinois; who, along with her seven cherished grandchildren, Ben, Linnea, Nicole, Steven, Jacob, Andrew, and Michelle Fox; and two great-grandchildren, Jax and Eli Bihlmaier; survive her. She is also survived by two sisters, Diane (Larry) Blahauvietz and Laurel (Bruce) Marchinowski; and brother-in-law, Larry Lucht. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Sandy Lucht.
A dedicated educator, Carol taught for decades at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, influencing generations of students with her knowledge, warmth, and passion for nutrition and wellness. Her commitment to others extended far beyond the classroom. Carol was a devoted volunteer with her church, the David Davis Mansion, Carle Clinic Cancer Center, and McLean County Museum of History.
In her free time, Carol found joy in traveling, gardening, cooking, music, and sending handwritten cards and notes. She loved collecting cardinals and angels and enjoyed her lilacs, hollyhocks, irises, and poppies. Her hobbies reflected her nurturing spirit and love of beauty and tradition.
Carol spent her final years at Westminster Village, where she was known for her grace, wit, and kindness. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her unwavering dedication to family, her generous heart, and her life of purpose and quiet strength.
Carol’s funeral service will be on Tuesday, May 27, at 11 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington. Pastor Lyn Kern will be officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10-11 a.m., before the service. Burial will be at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Arrangements are being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home. Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carol’s memory to the St. John’s Lutheran Church or the David Davis Mansion Foundation.
For more information and to share your condolences and memories online, please visit: www.calvertmemorial.com.