West Branch, Iowa

Carol Elaine Slach, 95, passed away Friday, October 31, 2025, at the University of Iowa Downtown Campus in Iowa City.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in the West Branch Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Branch First Responders or a charity of the donors choice.

Carol was born December 10, 1929, in Salem, Iowa, the daughter of Floyd and Winifred (Taylor) Byers. The family moved to West Branch in 1931, where they farmed north of town until 1935, when they moved to a farm near Downey. She graduated from West Branch High School in 1947, where she was active in music, Glee Club, mixed chorus, and the concert and marching bands. On April 24, 1948, she was united in marriage to Leonard Slach in West Branch.

Carol began working at First State Bank (later West Branch State Bank) in June 1947 as a secretary and went on to serve as a teller and bookkeeper. She retired in May 1992 after 45 years of dedicated service. She was a longtime member of the West Branch United Methodist Church. Carol enjoyed reading, working jigsaw puzzles and word searches, and gathering for coffee with her friends. Most of all, she cherished time spent with her family.

In keeping with her lifelong love of music, Carol became a charter member of the New Horizons Band of Iowa City in 1995, where she played the French horn. She also sang with the Voices of Experience, a senior chorus in Iowa City.

Survivors include three children: Alan (Ginger) Slach of Ocala, Florida; Connie (Rick) Conner of Janesville, Wisconsin; and Gary (Janlyn) Slach of West Branch; three grandchildren: Tim (Tracey) Slach, Natalie (Skylor) Maxson, and Austin Slach; and four great-grandchildren: Taylor, Vera, Stella, and Kipton. She is also survived by many step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, brother in law Arnold Slach and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard (1990), three brothers, and two sisters.