Carolyn L. Dashner Amengual

Carolyn Louise Dashner Amengual, 83, of Scottsdale, AZ, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2024 at Tuscan Place Assisted Living in Scottsdale, AZ where she was a resident since January 2024.
A private family graveside service and burial will be held in the Malvern Cemetery on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 10:30 am.
Loess Hills Funeral Home of Malvern, IA is caring for Carolyn and her family with local arrangements.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials go to the following:
Youth Guidance
(a social services organization in Chicago, IL) www.youth-guidance.org
or
Doctors Without Borders www.doctorswithoutborders.org

OBITUARY (by family)
Carolyn L. Dashner Amengual, 83, of Scottsdale, AZ, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2024 at Tuscan Place Assisted Living in Scottsdale, AZ where she was a resident since January 2024.
Carolyn was born in Council Bluffs, IA at 12:30 am on Thursday, September 26, 1940 to Max and Marjorie (Donner) Dashner. She was the first born of three children (sister Donna, brother Doug).
In her first 6 years, Carolyn lived in Glenwood and Randolph, Mills County, IA. The family moved to Malvern in 1946. Carolyn would forever proudly and happily state from then on, that “Malvern is the town that I claim to be from when I identified myself”. Carolyn attended elementary, junior high and high school in Malvern. Band (French horn/trumpet) and music (chorus/piano) were big parts of her high school years. Academically, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also named class president of her high school.
Carolyn attended Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) in Ames, IA. While there, she pledged and became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She married Keith Axtell and they moved to Evanston IL. Carolyn completed her Bachelor of Education degree at the National College of Education in Evanston IL. After graduating, she began a position teaching the 5th grade at Romona Elementary School in Wilmette, IL. As a first-year teacher she recalled thinking, “I will never forget the first day I stood before my class and realized the ominous responsibility I had for one year of my students’ learning”. She also gave piano lessons and worked as a Home and Hospital teacher for the Evanston School District.
Her two sons, Brian and Kevin were born in Evanston, IL. In her memoirs, Carolyn would express that her “biggest accomplishment has been raising two sons to be happy, healthy contributors to society”. She was proud of them for many things, but especially that they and their wives all became wonderful parents themselves.
In the summer of 1972, the family moved to Western Springs, IL. Carolyn joined the Chicago Commons (an auxiliary for a social service agency in the inner-city). She joined the 1st Congregational Church of Western Springs and continued her love of music, singing in the church choir and participating in supporting many church activities. She became interested in the mission of the church, especially in the inner city, and enjoyed giving thought to the social issues of the time.
Years later, Carolyn divorced and to keep the family home and support her children, she quickly began searching for a full-time job. One of her son’s teachers suggested she talk with her husband who was on the Board of Directors of a non-profit in Chicago and from there, began her thirteen-year career with Youth Guidance, a social service agency created to keep “hard to reach” children in the inner-city from dropping out of school. In March of 1975, she was hired as an Administrative Assistant. Working downtown and commuting by train was a new experience for her and she would always express that her co-workers quickly became a family support system that she held very close to heart. She was directly responsible to the Executive Director and a 40-member Board of Directors for communications, special events, fund development, office manager and personnel. Through a co-worker, Carolyn was also introduced to a friend of his, Michael Amengual whom she would marry in 1982.
Carolyn continued to work part time at Youth Guidance until she left in 1988 as one of four Assistant Directors and the only non-social worker. During that time, she turned her attention to hobbies and furthering her education. She enjoyed painting with her watercolor group and joined the West Suburban Chorale. She also began her master’s degree program at night school from National-Louis University and in 1988 she received her M.S. degree in Management and Development of Human Resources.
In March 1989, she began work at the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Inc. (ASPRS) as Administrative Director to the National Medical Society. In June of 1990 she was promoted by the president of the Society to the top position of ASPRS as Interim Managing Director. She held this position successfully until 1999, when she decided it was time to retire after working at the Society for 11 years.
Carolyn and Michael moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 2002 to enjoy their retirement. They continued to travel both domestically and internationally. Carolyn loved exploring new countries and cultures. She was proud of having traveled to most US States and to 5 continents. She was very excited about tracing genealogy, and she completed a five-book memoir with written details, photographs and other visual aids about her life, her parents, her sons, and her travels with Michael over the years. Carolyn loved reading books, writing in her journal, doing newspaper crossword puzzles, or playing solitaire (especially on long international flights). She enjoyed being part of The New Comers to Scottsdale group and attending events with interesting, well-known speakers. She looked forward each year to the fall season when her friends would return to AZ and gather regularly to play Bunco and have lunch. Carolyn enjoyed yearly visits with her sister Donna in Iowa or talking to her on the phone. She loved classical and new age music, the theater, the ballet, figure skating and museums around the world.
In her own words from her 2009’s Memoir: “I believe everlasting life may be what we leave behind of ourselves. I have utmost respect for the great religions of the world. And I believe “depth perception” is not just about the eyes, it is about the body, mind, and spirit”
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister Donna. She leaves behind her husband of 42 years Michael Amengual of Scottsdale, AZ; her son Brian Axtell and wife Tricia of Seattle, WA; and grandchildren Sidney, Maeve, Thomas, and Ronan; son Kevin Axtell and wife Michele of Kalamazoo, MI; and grandchildren Payton and Talora; her brother Doug Dashner and wife Nancy of Dekalb, IL; and three nieces Lynette, Elizabeth, Sara, and their families. Her sister-in-law Fanny Amengual and family (Mallorca, Spain). Her cousins and families on both sides of her Donner and Dashner families.