Carmen Marie (Klein) Skarlupka passed into eternal peace on July 16, 2018 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. She was born February 16, 1970 to James and Claudia (Espe) Klein in Bemidji, MN. Carmen graduated from Appleton (WI) West High School in 1988 where she excelled in academics, music and sports. One of her proudest achievements was being named most valuable player for her soccer team and achieving all-conference honors as well. She graduated from UW-Madison in 1993 with a Bachelor's Degree in Forest Science. Her professional accomplishments included assignments on multiple national forests, work at a forestry experimental station, and in other forest products/agricultural industries including an engineering/surveying firm. 

On September 28, 1996 she married Luke Skarlupka. Their life together took them from Pound WI to Glenwood WA, Darby and Hardin MT and finally to Deer River MN. Each move provided new challenges and adventures. Together they were blessed with three beautiful children: Amber, Brooke and Sloan. As a child with her family, and sister, Camille, and later as an adult with her own family, Carmen enjoyed camping, hiking, swimming and canoeing in numerous national forests and parks across the country. 

In addition to her husband and children, Carmen is survived by her parents Claudia Klein of Appleton WI and James (Kathy) of Edgerton WI; her sister Camille Klein (Arte Condon) of Almena WI; father-in-law and mother-in-law Andy and Phyllis Skarlupka; brothers-in-law Dwain, Randy (Debbie), Tony (Luann), Bill (Ruth), Mike (Andrea) and Zeke (Kelly) Skarlupka; sisters-in-law Rachel (Randy) Zahn and Renita Skarlupka, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Raymond and Edna Klein of Bluffton MN and Elmer and Frances Espe of Dunseith ND. 

A celebration of life was held at Veterans' Memorial Park on Jack Lake near Antigo, WI on August 3, 2018 at 12 Noon.