Carolee Ann Stark

Carolee Ann (Walsh) Stark, 91, passed away on January 28, 2026, at the KU Hospice House In Olathe, Kansas.

Born in Ionia, Michigan, to Walter Walsh and Agnes (Marshall) Walsh on May 24, 1934, she spent a majority of her early days in Pontiac, Michigan. Her desire to see the world drove her to join the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. She met her future husband, Maurice, while both of them served in California. They were united in marriage in August of 1954.

Carolee earned her Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University of Missouri and her Masters at Kansas State University. She worked in various capacities as a journalist/reporter/editor at the Ypsilanti Press and the Kansas State University Engineering Magazine.

One might say she was known internationally due to her stints teaching English in China and Mexico and at World Friendship in Manhattan, Kansas. Carolee and her late husband Maurice (Buzz) were also very involved with exchange programs through AFS (American Field Service) and supported many foreign exchange students in their home through the years.

Her interests varied greatly. She loved to rock hunt, especially in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She enjoyed international travel and lived in Italy and Germany when Buzz took a sabbatical in 1993. She enjoyed learning foreign languages, promoting women’s equality through volunteering, and she was involved with Sunset Zoo in Manhattan as a zoo docent. Snakes were the bane of her existence though. If you knew her well, you knew she was always busy!

Carolee is survived by four of her six children. Jeff (Sharon) Stark of Topeka, Ks., Anne (Stark) Larson and her partner Becky, of Olathe, Ks., Gary (Anne) Stark of Marquette, Mi,. and Tim (Nikki) Stark of Blue Springs, Mo. She also had numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister Pat (Walsh) Stafford, husband Maurice Earl Stark, sons David and Dan, and grandson Brandon.

We will celebrate Carolee’s life with a Celebration of Life service at Penwell Gabel Funeral Home in Olathe, Ks. The service will be at 10:00 on March 7, and we are suggesting everyone wear blue as it was Carolee’s favorite color. No need to be formal. A lunch will follow the service at the funeral home.

Carolee was very involved with foreign students and adults. Contributions may be given to:

https://www.afsusa.org/donate/

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