Carol Ann Murguia, age 78, entered eternal rest on October 12, 2026.

In keeping with Carol’s wishes, there will be no public service. A private committal service will be held at Assumption Cemetery, Sylvia Switch in Zwingle, Iowa.  Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.

Carol was born in Dubuque, Iowa on March 2, 1948, to Ray and Catherine Kemerer.  She graduated from Maquoketa High School and Bayless Business College.  From an early age, Carol possessed a special sense of style, grace, and determination. During high school she was on homecoming court and participated in the Miss Maquoketa pageant. After graduation, she started her career at John Deere Dubuque Works.

On December 19, 1970, she married Joseph Murguia.  Carol was a proud member of the Dubuque and Bellevue Water Ski Clubs and the YMCA.  Carol’s athletic abilities led to her acclamations as she became a National Water Ski Champion at jumping and slalom.  She also excelled at trick water skiing and was a noted racquetball player and snow skier. Carol was the first woman president of the Dubuque Ski Club and in 1975 she was honored by the YWCA with a “Women of Achievement Award” in sports recognizing the 62 awards she earned in water ski jumping as well as being honored for her many awards in snow skiing competitions. 

With Carol growing up on the farm, she had an extreme love for animals.  She raised cattle, horses, dogs and cats.  Especially Annie her cow, and dogs: Toby, many Teddys, Pete’s, her black labs and Samuel, her yellow lab. The family wishes to thank Butch for his dedicated help caring for the animals and his concern for Carol.

The cornerstone of Carol’s life was her Catholic faith. She found strength, comfort, and purpose through religion. Her faith guided the way she lived, loved, and treated others, and was a source of peace and reassurance throughout life’s many blessings and challenges. Carol leaves behind a beautiful legacy of faith, kindness, compassion, generosity, and love. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she is now resting peacefully in the arms of the Lord.

She will be deeply missed by her sisters Kathleen Lyons and Helen (Kerry) Reisen and her brother, Ray (Butch) Kemerer, Jr. She will also be missed by her several nieces and nephews that she left a lasting impact on.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her brother-in-law, Gerry Lyons.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to their sister Helen and the dedicated caregivers who provided Carol with such extraordinary kindness, compassion, and loving care that they so generously shared. Their patience, gentle hands, and genuine concern brought comfort, dignity, and peace during the months and final days Carol was with us. They became more than caregivers; they were a blessing to Carol and the entire family. Their kindness will never be forgotten, and the family will forever be grateful. The family would especially like to thank “Care Initiatives Hospice”, “Home Instead” and “No Place Like Home”.