Carolyn Wilde-Prochnow

Carolyn Margaret Wilde-Prochnow, age 68 of Markesan passed away peacefully January 30, 2026 at Silver Lake Manor in Wautoma. Carolyn was born on October 29, 1957 in Wittenberg, Wisconsin to Phillip and Betty (Tubesing) Zieman. Carolyn was baptized as an infant in Wittenberg, she attended Sunday School and was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Harrisville. Carolyn grew up in Montello and attended Montello High School where she made fond memories, especially having her mother as her high school art teacher.

Carolyn grew up riding horses and continued showing horses into adulthood with her father. She taught her daughter to ride as a little girl. She had an annual tradition of helping set up and work the Zieman Trailer Sales booth at the Wisconsin Horse Fair in Madison alongside her family. Throughout her life, she continued to value her various animal companions.

Carolyn became quite a talented cosmetologist, graduating from Martin’s School of Hair Design. She was the proud owner of Wilde’s Old Barber Shop in Princeton. She took great pride in her work, especially her expertise in flat-top haircuts. Carolyn treasured the relationships she built with her customers.

Carolyn was a skillful knitter whose afghans, sweaters, and scarves will continue to warm those who loved her. Carolyn always looked good in her country western style clothes and jewelry.

For nearly 40 years, Carolyn and Denny shared a deep love and many common interests. Nicknamed “Lou” by their fun loving biker cronies, Carolyn enjoyed day trips and weekend getaways with Denny and friends, saddled on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles, cruising the countryside clad in leather. They took welding classes together, crafting pieces from horseshoes, and also attended Catechism classes together at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Markesan so Carolyn could be confirmed.

In more recent years, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, baking sweet treats with little Sydney as well as trips to the apple orchard and Amish bakery with the boys along too. She was becoming a real Wautoma Hornet fan, cheering on the sidelines for her grandchildren playing soccer, football, and basketball.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Dennis, daughter, Leah (Jeremy) Jackowski of Princeton, step-children: Shannon Prochnow of Oshkosh and John (Jessica) Prochnow of Spring Hill, KS and grandchildren: Jordy, Brady, and Sydney Jackowski, as well as Wyatt and Quinn Prochnow. She is also survived by twin sister Rosalyn Scheuttpelz of Plover, and brothers Rex (Sharon) Zieman of Ponder, TX, and Ted (Deide) Zieman of Stratford, TX as well as step-mother, LuAnn Zieman of Montello, other extended family members, and many cherished house plants and cacti.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, Jeffrey as well as her former husband and father of her daughter, William Wilde.

Carolyn trusted in Jesus as her savior all her life and clung to that promise after her surprising diagnosis in November 2025, of rapidly growing and incurable metastatic cancer. She looked forward to eternal life in paradise.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28

A memorial service for Carolyn Wilde-Prochnow will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at the Crawford Funeral Home in Montello. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the hour of service. Pastor Mike Vargo will preside and private inurnment will be held at a later date in the Harris Cemetery.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Montello and Oxford is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com