Carol Louise Mager

Carol L. Mager, age 75, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, passed away on November 8, 2026, following a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Carol was born on May 20, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to John and Marilyn (Anfinsen) Jernberg. She grew up in Minneapolis alongside her brother, Tom, and graduated from Rosevelt High School in 1969. She continued her education at Augsburg University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Carol began her nursing career at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis, before moving to Fairview Southdale Hospital, where she dedicated more than 40 years to caring for others. She began working in Labor and Delivery before spending the majority of her career in the Intensive Care Unit.

The greatest joy in Carol’s life was raising her three daughters, Michelle, Melanie, and Katie. She loved spending time with them, traveling together, watching their sporting events, and teaching them along the way. Carol married Einar in 1986, and they made their home in Apple Valley, where they raised their family.

Outside of work, Carol enjoyed gardening, cheering on the Minnesota Twins, and traveling to Florida, especially to watch the Twins during spring training. She treasured the many trips to a cabin in Spicer that had become a special place for her and her family, as well as their family trips to Florida to visit her parents. She also looked forward to getting together for lunch, brunch, or coffee with her longtime nursing friends, affectionately known to her as her “old lady friends.” In her retirement, she volunteered time as the parish nurse at Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley.

Above all, Carol loved her family. She was kind, loving, patient, and a strong woman who always found a way to balance the demands of her nursing career with being a devoted mother and grandmother. She had a special way of making everyone in her family feel loved and important. One of her favorite traditions was taking each of her grandchildren individually on a special trip of their choosing, creating memories they would always treasure. It was often the little things Carol did that meant the most, and she had a way of making each person feel special in their own way.

Carol is survived by her loving daughters, Michelle (Craig) Beissel, Melanie (Joe) Rowan, and Katie Mager; grandchildren, Kaylee, Mackenzie, Tommy (Mira), Danny, Sophie, Evan, Stella, London, and Georgie; brother, Tom (Nadine) Jernberg; nieces and nephews; in-laws; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Einar Mager; and her parents, John and Marilyn Jernberg.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church, 7800 West County Road 42, Apple Valley, Minnesota. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the church, with a light reception to follow the service. Carol will be laid to rest alongside her husband, Einar, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by Henry W. Anderson Funeral Home, 14850 Garrett Avenue, Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124.