Carol Gick

We are heartbroken to announce that Carol Gick, 81, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, on Monday, March 31, 2026.

In Loving Memory of Carol Gick

Carol Gick, born August 30, 1944 — a woman shaped by hardship, driven by a sense of duty, and marked by a complex, enduring love for her family. Her life was one of resilience and contradiction, strength and sacrifice. She carried more than her share, and though her path was not always easy, she walked it with a fierce determination that left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew her.

Strong-willed and, at times, difficult, Carol was also deeply generous. For more than 45 years, she poured herself into helping others — weather it be her husband, her children, her grandchildren, strangers, or someone she met online. She gave, often at her own expense, echoing a pattern passed down from her own mother. It was a legacy of giving that was both poignant and telling — a reflection of a heart that never stopped trying to make a difference.

Though we, her children, weren’t always with her, we carry her traits, and this I see — the fire, the stubbornness, the humor, the strength, the drive. Life with her was a wild ride, full of unexpected turns and unforgettable moments. Even in the hardest times, there was laughter, there was love, and there was always a sense of motion — of striving for something better.

Carol’s accomplishments were as remarkable as they were hard-won. She was a member of Mensa. She earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and secured a contract with NASA, where she wrote a program for one of the space shuttles. All the while, she was caring for her husband as he recovered from a serious accident — a testament to her strength and capacity to carry others, even when she herself was burdened.

And before all that, she spent over 25 years as a truck driver, hauling everything from produce to nitroglycerin, military equipment to common freight. It was a life on the road that demanded toughness, independence, and resilience — qualities she had in abundance.

Her story is not a simple one, but it is real. It is layered. It is human. And it is ours to carry forward — not just in memory, but in the ways we live, love, and give.

As she’d say on the CB radio, with a grin in her voice: “Don’t worry about it!”

Carol is survived by her children, Peggy Lampkin, Dennis Larkin, and Denise Ellis, as well as her 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, and her close friend, Carla Mallison.