Caroline Horstman

06/19/1985 — 08/26/2018

From Richland, WA | Born in Las Vegas, NV

Caroline Horstman

Caroline Helen Horstman, 33, passed away suddenly on Sunday, 26 August 2018, in the Richland home she made with her husband and four children. Her departure came all too soon.

She was born Caroline Helen Decker in Las Vegas, Nevada on 19 June 1985 to Duane and Sue (Schroepfer) Decker. Despite poor eyesight, she was reading by age 4 and went on to graduate high school ranking third in her class of roughly 700 students in 2003. Growing up, she enjoyed drawing, painting, music, and swimming. Caroline spent summers in Minnesota visiting her grandparents where her grandfather taught her to fish.  She loved being on the lake and fishing with her grandma, grandpa, and cousins. Her grandmother, a nurse, was a life-long model of vocation and service.

Initially seeking to study life sciences, she chose Washington State University. During her undergraduate studies, she also enjoyed playing flute and piccolo in several University musical ensembles. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Neuroscience in 2007. She went on to complete a B.S. in Nursing in 2010, also magna cum laude at WSU. During her years in college, she not only fell in love with Pullman and the Palouse Country, but also met her future husband, Matthew Horstman. They married 14 June 2008 and moved to Richland.

She began her career working as a School Nurse in the Kennewick schools. She cared for children from preschool to 12th grade and loved them all.  This last year, she began work as a home health nursing case manager with Professional Case Management, working with retired Hanford workers to help manage their chronic conditions. Here also, she loved and enjoyed working with, and helping all her clients; they loved her in turn. Most recently, she had accepted a half-time position to work as school nurse at Jefferson Elementary, which three of her four children attend. She was always immersed in the lives of her children, whether at home, school, or church, where, with her family, she was an active member of Christ the King Parish.

She is survived by her grandfather, Tom Schroepfer; parents, Duane and Sue Decker; brother, Andrew; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; husband of 10 years Matthew and children Chase (8), Clara-Marie (7), Christoffer (5), and Corinna (2); in-laws Mike and Donna Horstman, and Matthew’s sisters Annelise and Sarah. The family would like to express our thanks to the innumerable friends from church, college, and workplaces who have helped in so many substantial ways in this very difficult time.

Funeral services are planned for Saturday, 8 September, at 1:00 PM, with rosary at 12:00 noon, both at Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St Gall’s Cemetery, Colton, Washington.

 

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  • My heart is acheing for the family and you all are being remembered in prayer. Aunt Mary

    Mary Lynch
    September 20, 2018
    White Bear Lake, Mn.
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