Carlton Leroy Quamme

September 30, 1940 – June 9, 2026

Carlton Leroy Quamme passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at the age of 85 surrounded by the love of his family.

Carlton was born on September 30, 1940, in Madison, Wisconsin, to Norman and Orpha Quamme. The fourth of nine children, he grew up in a close-knit family whose roots traced back to Norway through his immigrant grandfather. Carlton was raised in the Madison area, where he and his brothers spent endless hours fishing, riding bikes, and playing basketball. He attended Monona Grove High School and was a proud member of their varsity basketball team.

He met the love of his life Deanna Lea Snorek at the age of 16 when Deanna offered Carlton and a friend a ride in the jumper seat of her Model A Ford on their way to a neighborhood dance. It was at this dance that a lifelong love story began.

Carlton and Deanna were married on October 3, 1959, initiating a marriage that would span more than sixty-six years. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, hard work, and devotion to one another, creating a legacy that continues through multiple generations.

Their marriage began with a challenge from Carlton’s father, Norman. When Carlton sought permission to marry Deanna at eighteen, Norman agreed on one condition: that he join the United States Army. Carlton accepted and proudly served for five years while he and Deanna began building their family.

Following his honorable military service, Carlton became a journeyman cabinet maker through the Industrial Commission of the State of Wisconsin. For more than forty years, he practiced his craft with pride, precision, and patience. The quality of his work reflected the character of the man himself: steady, dependable, and committed to doing things the right way.

Carlton had a lifelong love for the outdoors that began in the woods and lakes of Wisconsin and eventually drew him and Deanna westward in search of bigger mountains and greater adventures. Moving first to Colorado in 1973 and later to Montana in 1980, he became an accomplished backcountry horseman and hunter, spending countless days in remote wilderness areas and creating treasured memories with family and friends.

His passion for the outdoors never faded. He harvested his final deer at the age of eighty-three. He and Deanna also shared a love for camping, with Georgetown Lake becoming one of their favorite destinations and the setting for many cherished family memories.

Known for his sense of humor, Carlton rarely missed an opportunity to share a joke, story, or playful remark. Whether among family, parishioners, hunting partners, or strangers, he had a gift for putting people at ease and leaving them smiling.

Faith was central to Carlton’s life. This calling was realized through his 1989 ordination as a Permanent Deacon, beginning decades of faithful ministry at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He served his parish and the broader community with deep compassion, humility, and dedication. Among his most cherished roles was providing Communion services for the residents of local assisted living communities, a ministry he continued until his final weeks, with his last visit on May 18, 2026. For Carlton, serving others was not merely an action, but the very essence of who he was.

Just months before his passing, Carlton experienced the loss of his beloved wife. While their family mourns both losses deeply, they find comfort in believing that Carlton and Deanna are reunited once again.

When asked what he was most proud of, Carlton’s answer was simple:

“God, Deanna, kids.”

Those three loves defined his life.

When asked what he wanted future generations to remember, Carlton spoke of devotion, prayer, and living the faith daily. He recalled teaching his children to pray around the family table and hoped those lessons would continue to echo through future generations. His deepest hope was that his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren would come to know the same joy, purpose, and peace that faith brought to his own life.

The conversations, prayers, stories, and lessons he shared as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, deacon, and friend remain part of the legacy he leaves behind.

Carlton is survived by his children: Susanne Quamme; Cheryl Nixon (Jeff); Carlton Quamme (Shannon); Brian Quamme (Robin); Allyson Lipscomb (Brian); and Andrea Dahlberg (Doug); along with 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brother Edward Quamme; his sisters Sandra Penzkover (Pépé) and Linda Douglas (Dan); his niece Kim Trumm (Jim), whose place in the family reflected Carlton and Deanna’s belief that love and family extend far beyond labels; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Deanna Lea Quamme; his parents, Norman and Orpha Quamme; his sisters Charlene Gehrke and Joyce Schensky; his brothers Norman, John, and Robert; his grandson Bryce Fitzgerald; and many loved ones who welcomed him home.

A Rosary Service is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Missoula, MT.

His funeral will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 12, 2026 followed by a reception, also at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Missoula. A private family only burial will follow the reception.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons: Kenny, Kory, Jeffery, David, Brandon, Tyrell, Benjamin, Taylor, and Jesse.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Saint Francis Xavier Frisco Fund at Saint Francis Xavier Frisco Fund or to the Deaconate Formation for the Diocese of Helena at Deaconate Formation for the Diocese of Helena

The family extends their gratitude to the caregivers, hospice team, clergy, family members, and friends whose compassion and support brought comfort during Carlton’s final days.

May we honor Carlton’s life by loving one another deeply, remaining steadfast in faith, and carrying forward the values he worked so hard to instill in those he loved.