 LEWIS, CAROL (STECKBAUER) Carol Lewis, formerly Carol Steckbauer, passed away from a cerebral aneurysm on December 2, 2014 at the age of 73. She was surrounded by family and passed peacefully. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank Zabukovec, and Nona and Larry Genebach, as well as her infant son, Billy. Carol is survived by her three daughters Kathy Otero (Phillip), Ann Lathrop (Michael), and Susan Carter (Bill). She leaves adoring grandchildren Richard Sanchez, Frances Fuller (Robert), Mariah Steckbauer, Ryann Carter, Victor Samuel Armijo, and Jada Carter (in appropriate pecking order. Lol). She leaves behind two sisters, Sharon Luke and Susan Munday of Virginia. Carol was an Army brat, having lived in Germany, Japan, and China among other locations, traveling back to Kenosha, Wisconsin to spend her summers with her beloved grandmothers Anna and Nellie, as well as her father, Frank and wife, Adeline. Having completed her high school education early, she entered St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Racine, Wisconsin. She completed the program after her marriage to Bill Steckbauer and the birth of her first child, Kathy. She worked at Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh, Wisconsin before moving with her husband and three daughters to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1971, at which time she attained employment at Lovelace Bataan Medical Center. While employed there, she earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Hospital Administration, working her way up into the position of Assistant Administrator. After Lovelace was sold to HCA, she moved to a Quality Assurance/Risk Management position in the St. Joseph's Healthcare Systems until they sold out to Ardent. Carol thought that was a good time to retire. During her career she advocated, along with others, for a state level and national level Nurse's Day with the assistance of Mayor David Rusk, Governor Bruce King, and State Representative Manual Lujan, Jr., and was part of the contingent to meet with then Vice President George Bush Sr. at the White House. In 2009, Carol was awarded the Nursing Legend Award from the New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards, Mountain West Division. There will be a celebration of Carol's life and accomplishments Saturday, December 6th at 10:30 AM at Riverside Funeral Home, 225 San Mateo NE in Albuquerque 505-764-9663 with a small reception to follow at Riverside. Those wanting to share their memories of Carol may visit the online guest register at www.riversidefunerals.com.
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