Carol Whiteis

Carol J. Whiteis, age 95, of Forest City, IA, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

A memorial service for Carol will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Heritage Park – Beaver Creek Church, 1225 Hwy 69 S. Forest City, IA 50436. No visitation will be held prior to the service, but there will be time for fellowship following the service. Private family inurnment will happen at a later date at Oakland Cemetery, Forest City, IA.

Carol was born December 25, 1930 in rural Alden, Iowa, to Will and Mabel (Ditto) Kirchgatter. She grew up in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Her family later moved to Clear Lake, Iowa where she graduated in 1948. She matriculated at Waldorf College and then moved to Des Moines, Iowa, for a short time.

She married Robert P. Whiteis on September 1, 1950 at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa. They lived in Forest City, Iowa for the remainder of their lives. She was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young. She later worked as a bookkeeper at Whiteis Auto Company until the passing of her husband in 1993.

Her many years of enjoyment in genealogy began in the 1970’s when her sisters embarked on tracing their Kirchgatter family history. After publishing their family history Kirchgatter Kin in 1978, she continued with helping Whiteis descendants with the Whiteis history. Their first book was published in 1986. She was a member of the North Central Iowa Genealogical Society and Winnebago Historical Society. She collected Winnebago and North Central Iowa history for many years and combined these efforts with her dear and long-time friend Ruth Leibrand. Their dream came true with the creation of the Leibrand/Whiteis Research Center located at the Mansion Museum, Forest City, Iowa. Some of her highlights include an interview with Iowa Public Television, the Governor’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012, Puckerbrush Grand Marshall in 2012 and member of the Winnebago Historical Society. She enjoyed being on the Board and giving tours at the Mansion Museum. She also enjoyed meeting visitors from across the country and helping them with their genealogical research.

She is survived by her five children, Catherine Jacque of Rochester, Minnesota, Barbara Gebhard of Brainerd, Minnesota, Robert Whiteis, of Forest City, Iowa, Gerald Whiteis of Rochester, Minnesota and Steven (Rene) Whiteis of Lakeville, Minnesota. Eight grandchildren, Melissa (Rick) Fulton, Brian Jacque, Robert (Jolene) Gebhard, Daniel (Trillium) Gebhard, Steven (Kaylyn) Gebhard, Cole Whiteis, Zachary Whiteis and Noah Whiteis. Six great grandchildren, George, Leon, Oscar, Halle, Bohde and Steven and one sister, Judith (John) Powell.

She is preceded in death by a brother, Robert; her parents; an infant daughter; her husband, Robert; grandson, Tony and sisters and brothers-in-laws, Rosemary (Clinton) Allinson, Jean Ann (Larry) Fridlington, Margaret (Kenneth) Daleske and Dolores (Harvey) Frame.

Memorials can be directed to the Winnebago Historical Society in memory of Carol.