March 31, 1935 - May 25, 2025 Carmen Elizabeth Van Pelt

Carmen Elizabeth Van Pelt, 90, of Archer died Sunday, May 25, 2025 at her home surrounded by family. Memorial services will be Friday, June 6, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church with Sam Krug officiating. There will be no visitation.

Memorials are suggested to the Archer Memorial Park, Central City United Methodist Church, and Central City Public Schools. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.

Carmen was born on March 31, 1935 near Hopewell, in rural Pratt County, Kansas, to George Louis and Naomi Mary (Neelly) Fell II, at the home of her grandparents, Charles and Ethel Neelly. She lived with her parents on a farm near Byers, KS and attended school at Byers Elementary. In 1946 they moved to a farm near Simla, CO and she attended Sandy Creek High School, graduating in 1952. She continued her education at Colorado State University for one year. She also worked for Wilson Sporting Goods in Denver, CO.

Carmen Fell and Robert Dean were married in 1955 in Denver, CO. To this union three children were born, Alan, Carol and Robin.

She returned to college at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO in 1961. She graduated in 1963 with a degree in elementary education and began teaching in Loveland, CO.

Carmen was united in marriage to Dwaine Van Pelt on June 3, 1967 in Loveland, CO. Carmen and her children moved to a farm in Archer and joined Dwaine’s family, Sue, Anne, David, Doug, and Dan. Dwaine adopted Carmen’s children and they became a family of ten. In 1968, they welcomed to their family, Matthias Mascher a foreign exchange student from Germany.

Carmen was a substitute teacher in Central City and nearby schools for forty plus years. She also worked at Fonner Park in Grand Island, was the children’s librarian at Central City Public Library for eight and a half years, and was ABE/GED tutor, instructor at Central Community College at Central City site for twenty plus years.

Carmen was a member of the Central City United Methodist Church, where she was Educational Chairman and Choir Director. She taught Sunday School and Bible School, and served on many other boards in the church. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women’s group. She served on the county board for many years. She spent the last few years on the canvassing board.

She enjoyed reading, sewing, flower gardening, and attending activities of her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, David Van Pelt and Melanie Miller of Lincoln; Doug (Donnette) Van Pelt of Central City; and Dan Van Pelt of Missouri Valley, IA; daughters and sonsin- law, Sue (Norman) Krug of Chapman; Anne (David) Gillespie of Eagle; Carol Van Pelt of Colorado Springs, CO; and Robin Glisson and friend, Dave Rons of Central City, Twenty-six grandchildren, Forty-four great-grandchildren, and brother-in-law, Leslie Thoden of Paola, KS along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dwaine, a son, Alan Van Pelt, a grandson, Dylan Van Pelt, twin brothers that died at birth, two brothers, Gordon Fell and George Louis Fell and a sister Nada Thoden.