Carolyn Weieneth Zietlow

Carolyn Weieneth Zietlow passed away on February 18, 2026 of a sudden stroke. Her life was marked by faith, friendship, and most importantly - family.

Carolyn was born Carolyn Marie Olson in Webster, South Dakota on November 6, 1941, to Arthur N. Olson and Agnes L. (Johanson) Olson. As the daughter of an Evangelical Free Church minister, Carolyn lived in several communities before ultimately graduating from high school in Polk City, Iowa. Shortly after graduating, she was introduced to Marlin Weieneth through high school friends. She was initially impressed by his pink Buick convertible but soon fell in love with Marlin. After one semester of college at Trinity College in Chicago, she married Marlin on August 26, 1961.

After her marriage, Carolyn worked for an insurance company in Des Moines until she was expecting her first child. When their daughter, Lori, was born, she left her career to stay home. Son, Kurt, was born three years later. When Lori and Kurt were in school, she obtained her real estate license and started a highly successful career as a realtor, even owning her own brokerage company. Eventually, she sold her company, but continued in the profession, managing several Iowa Realty offices. She trained many new agents and was a wonderful professional mentor to many. After many years of open houses and evening showings, she joined the Iowa Realty executive team and was known for planning elaborate awards banquets, holiday parties, and incentive trips.

Marlin passed away in 2005. During this difficult time, she was supported by her faith and many friends and family members. Yet she didn’t let her grief stop her. Among other adventures during this time, she traveled to Italy and France with her daughter and sister-in-law, on an African safari with a friend from Iowa Realty, and treated her children and grandchildren to a wonderful Disney cruise.

In 2012, she met Paul Zietlow. Interestingly, Carolyn already knew Paul’s daughter and son-in-law, so he came with good credentials. They were married on November 30, 2013. In their years together, they enjoyed traveling both domestically and internationally, and especially enjoyed spending winters in Naples, Florida, where they excelled in bocce and shuffleboard competitions at their condominium association and made lasting friendships. Never one to turn down an opportunity to help plan a party, Carolyn was active in many social events both in Naples and at home in Adel. Paul and Carolyn were leaders in their church’s Young at Heart group.

Carolyn served both communities in volunteer roles as well, presiding over the Ixora Court condo association in Naples, and serving on the ADM Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors for over 25 years.

She was also a woman of many talents, including playing piano for church at a young age, winning the New Pioneer Gun Club Ladies Club Championship in skeet shooting, and catching walleyes, small mouth bass, and northern pike on many fishing trips to Canada. In addition, she paved the way for many women in the real estate field and became the first woman board member for the Des Moines Board of Realtors. But more important than all of her talents, she was a friend, mentor, and role model to many.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Marlin. She is survived by her husband Paul, twin brothers Bob Olson (Tricia Young) and Dick Olson (Carol Lynn Courtney), her daughter, Lori (Scott) Geadelmann, her son, Kurt (Tiffany) Weieneth, and her grandchildren Ben and Will Geadelmann and Penn, Elle and Kate Weieneth. She is also survived by Paul’s daughters, Kerri (Blake) Hardy and Jill (Michael) Philby, Paul’s grandchildren, Jacob (Jessica) Hardy, Rachel Hardy, Noah Hicks, Samuel Philby and Leah Philby, and Paul’s great-granddaughter, Joanna Hardy.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 26th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at New Hope Church in Adel, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 27th at 10:00 a.m. at New Hope Church in Adel, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials in Carolyn’s honor may be made to:

ADM Scholarship Foundation (ADM Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 191, Adel, IA 50003) or

New Hope Church (25172 US-6, Adel, IA 50003).