Obituary of Carol Jean Almson

Carol Almson passed away peacefully on November 21, 2024 at the age of 82, after living with dementia for eight years. She died of natural causes. She was born Carol Alms on May 22, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. As a child, she moved with her family to Ottawa, Illinois. Carol played trombone in her high school band and had fond memories of band trips. She graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1960. In 1965, Carol earned her bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of Illinois Champagne Urbana. Carol pursued advanced education with determination, earning a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1974 and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1977. Carol was a passionate educator, teaching English in schools across the country, including Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Clark County, Nevada. She was passionate about Holocaust education and incorporated it into her classes. She formed a meaningful friendship with Alicia Appleman-Jurman, a Holocaust survivor who toured the country telling her story to young people. Carol met her husband, Rick Dusic, in high school. They married the summer after graduation and welcomed their daughter, Laura, the following year. After obtaining her BA, she, Rick, and Laura moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Carol was captivated by the vibrant counterculture of the Haight-Ashbury and the transformative experiences of the Esalen Institute. It was during this time that she and Rick decided to divorce. In the early 1970s, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, with her girlfriend, Neola. After they broke up, she met Norma "Suki" Suchy, a brilliant scientist and artist. Carol and Suki shared 20 years together. In 1980 they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where Carol continued teaching middle school. When Carol and Suki broke up, Carol started seeing Joanie Peterson, who was a bold and spirited New Yorker. In 1974, Carol legally changed her name to Tasha Mandala, reflecting her evolving identity and spiritual exploration. In 1991, she reconnected with her Swedish heritage by adopting the name Carol Almson, which she carried for the rest of her life. Carol loved to travel, always focusing on natural beauty. She explored much of the American West, hiking with friends, her siblings, and always, her dogs. Her journeys took her beyond the U.S., including trips to Europe, Israel, Mexico, and many other countries. Carol was very outgoing and would often strike up conversations with strangers. Her deep curiosity made her a natural conversationalist. She enjoyed discussing ideas and learning from others. Carol loved her dogs and rarely had fewer than two at a time, usually a German shepherd and a smaller dog. Her favorite dogs included Dandy, a shepherd, and Poppycorn, a small mixed breed white dog. Carol’s vehicles were as distinctive as her personality. In her younger years, she delighted in her red convertible MG. She also drove a yellow Dodge Colt that was covered in designs painted by Suki. It turned heads wherever it went. Later, her cars reflected her rugged lifestyle, mostly pickup trucks, but also a Jeep and a Toyota 4Runner. In 2002, Carol, now single, retired to Moab, Utah. She was drawn by its stunning natural beauty. She split her time between a house in town and a log cabin in Castle Valley, surrounded by breathtaking views in both places. In her later years, Carol moved back to Ottawa, Illinois, to reconnect with her siblings. In 2018 she moved California to live near her daughter, Laura, who lovingly cared for her until her passing. Carol is survived by her daughter, Laura Nolan; her granddaughters, Molly Nolan, and Emily Nolan; and her brother, Roy Alms. She was predeceased by her siblings, Stan Alms and Joyce Ruhland. A celebration of Carol’s life will be held in Moab, Utah, in the spring of 2025, a place she loved deeply.