Carol Ann (Lilja) Salmans

Carol Ann (Lilja) Salmans, 72, died April 26, 2021 at her home in Wichita, with her husband John Salmans at her side. She was born April 14, 1949 in Opalocka, Florida to Carl John Lilja and Marjorie Ellen (Teter) Lilja. During her childhood her family traveled extensively (with her father’s military career) and Carol lived many places in the United States and Morocco, Africa. After Carol’s father’s death, the family settled in Hutchinson, Kansas. January 1, 1980, John and Carol were joined together in marriage at their home in Salina, Kansas and they celebrated 41 years of marriage. John tirelessly and with complete devotion attended to Carol’s every need throughout her almost eight-year battle with ovarian cancer. She graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1967 and Salt City college. Carol’s work career began at Far Mar Co in the Wiley Building in Hutchinson. After moving to Wichita, Carol earned her license in real estate and worked as a successful realtor before becoming a residential loan originator for Wells Fargo Financial Institution in Wichita. Carol retired from a long successful career in real estate, shortly after becoming ill in 2013. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, and was an avid reader. In 1998 John and Carol’s interest in golf motivated them to build a home and move to Willow Bend Golf Community in Wichita, where they lived at the time of Carol’s passing and John remains. Most of all, Carol enjoyed spending time with family, especially attending the activities and event of her niece and nephew, Maggie and Carl Lilja. Carol is survived by her husband, John; sons, John Foster Salmans II (Jennifer) and Jared James Salmans, all of Wichita; sister, Linda Lilja (Theodore Hendricks) of Scranton, KS; brothers, Ralph Lilja (Lisa Vanlandingham Lilja) of Zenda, KS and Garry Young (LaVonne) of Crescent City, CA; and her loyal friend of more than 50 years, Kathy Wallace Meyers McClanahan (Jud) of Salina, KS. Other survivors include: nephew, Carl Johan Lilja of Zenda, KS; nieces, Regina Saldana Carfagnini (Edward) of Winnetak, IL, Margaret “Maggie” McClelland Lilja of of Zenda, KS, and Yvonne Lilja of Orange County, CA; great-nieces, Kate Rose Carfagnini and Brooke Ann Carfagnini of Winneka, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Charles John Lilja. As per Carol’s directive, cremation has taken place and there will be no memorial service. Donations may be made in Carol’s name to Stephenson Cancer Center, 800 NE 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Her participation in the ovarian cancer trials and the outstanding oncology staff at Stephenson Cancer Center extended Carol’s life on Earth by more than five years. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.