Carol Teasdale

Carol Cleary Teasdale, of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, went to other realms on May 4, 2021 after a long dance with cancer.

Born on July 20, 1949 in Bemidji, Minnesota, she was the second of four children born to Donald Cleary and Margaret Norine. Three years later the family moved to Willmar, Minnesota, where Carol spent her childhood, volunteering at an animal sanctuary and graduating from Willmar High School in 1967. She spent summers during college working with disabled children and touring countries across Europe, ultimately graduating from Moorhead State College in 1974 with degree in special education.

She met the love of her life, Harold Teasdale, in 1977 at a self-improvement seminar and one year later she birthed her son Matthew at home in Minneapolis, at a time when doing so was not common. As always, Carol did things her way and was not afraid to go against the grain, even if it meant befuddling her son and stepson with “weird” natural foods and goat’s milk in gallon jars from an area farm.

One of Carol’s proudest achievements came in 1988, as the Cold War came to a close, when she organized and led a team of American runners to the Moscow International Peace Marathon and raised large sums for hunger-relief organizations. The following year she hosted Russian skiers in Minnesota as part of the Ski For Peace project.

Carol felt her highest calling was to be a healer. A Shaklee distributor for many years, she later embraced essential oils, which could be found, and smelled, all over her home and those of her family members. She fervently believed there was not a health or hygiene problem that could not be solved with oils and proper nutrition. She loved music and dancing, and learned to play mandolin in her 50s, occasionally performing live. In time, she combined her passions with tuning forks and crystal and Tibetan bowls, which she played for their acoustic healing powers.
An adventurous soul, she cherished backpacking trips with her husband in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. She also embarked on memorable wilderness canoe trips in the Northwest Territories. In her 50s and 60s she visited South America several times, exploring indigenous culture and shamanic healing, and strongly supported the cultural and conservation work of the Pachamama Alliance.

Alongside her husband, she helped create and nurture Jackson Meadow, an innovative conservation community on the bluffs above the St. Croix River in the historic hamlet of Marine on St. Croix. Above all, Carol wished for the world to unite in peace and love, and she made it a better, healthier, more colorful place with her presence.

She is survived by her husband Harold, sister Lynn (Galen) Gauer, and brother Pat (Jeanne) Cleary, son Matt and daughter-in-law Margaret, stepson Aaron and his wife Jacqueline, grandchildren Kane, Fara, Haze, Silas, Jonah, many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Donald and Margaret Cleary and her sister Jacque Boerma.

A celebration of life will be held at her beloved Jackson Meadow, in Marine on St. Croix, at 11:00 AM on June 26th, 2021.