Carolyn Vesterstein

Carolyn Joy Vesterstein passed away at her home on October 17, 2016. She affectionately became known as "Joy" as she brightened the spirits of everyone she touched. Joy was born on August 16, 1930 to parents Harry and Ruth Conro. The daughter of a Pacific Coast lumber entrepreneur she inherited her father’s pioneering spirit. As a little girl, along with her parents, she traveled regularly by ship or plane to many exciting places around the globe. She loved riding horses along the lumber roads and logging trails on and around her father's lumber mills. Joy also loved riding her horse down the forested trails of the Pacific Coast to the Ocean where she discovered her profound appreciation for the ocean and all things wild.

Joy attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and then attended Emanuel School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse. Soon afterwards, Joy landed her first job as Head Nurse for the Union Pacific Railroad in Portland.

In 1957, Joy and a few girlfriends took a post-graduation ski trip to Sun Valley, Idaho Ski Resort. Joy took a fall on the ski run, and an avid skier by the name of Paul came to her rescue. Coincidence had it that the two would reconnect that same evening at a Sun Valley dance hall and their lifelong romance was born.

In 1957, Joy and Paul married in Portland, Oregon. The newlyweds then embarked on their new life in Duluth, where Paul served as the director of the YMCA.  Joy was immediately hired as the Senior Industrial Nurse for the U.S. Steel Plant in Morgan Park.

While raising their family of 5 kids they lead a dynamic and adventurous life. They enjoyed commuting to their ocean home on Florida’s Atlantic Coast where Joy could reconnect with her childhood ties to the ocean. Together, they also traveled to Estonia, Germany, Australia, Finland, Mexico and many more places abroad. She traveled yearly on the Rocky Mountain Ski Trips that her husband organized, trips that included often more than 150 Duluthians. Joy enjoyed her years as a member of Northland Country Club, playing tennis with her lady friends. She was always known for bringing her "Joyous" spirit and her quick-witted humor. Joy had the honor of playing host to the President of Estonia and his secret service staff in her home in 1990, and many other notable figures during her lifetime with Paul.

Joy loved all animals. She found beauty in creatures great and small. Her home on the Northland Golf Course became a shelter home for all sorts of animals, both domestic and wild, needing help or home. She actively supported Animal Allies and donated generously to countless animal and wildlife charities, and was a silent philanthropist who never sought recognition for her deeds.

Joy followed her own approach to motherhood. She was not a disciplinarian. She was not one for strict rules. She taught life's lessons by setting examples of unwavering kindness and incredible human decency. Joy was the divine force behind all good things of the Vesterstein family.  Joy will be sadly missed by her family and all her furry loved ones until eternity.

Joy is survived by her husband Paul; children, Scott, Kirk, Marc, Lisa, and Karl (Darcy); and three grandchildren, Matti, Kaitlyn, and Sydney and her companions, Boyka, Jackie and Trixie.

Visitation:  Monday, October 24, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1325 N. 45th Avenue East, Duluth, MN, with Funeral:  1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to Animal Allies (animalallies.com) or Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation (wildwoodsrehab.org) are preferred. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, (218) 727-3555.