Carol Lynn Rubatt of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, passed away August 11th, 2026 at the age of 71 after an incredible and inspiring 6-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born on February 7th, 1955, Carol was the 4th of 5 children of Robert and Delores Bruss. She graduated from Menomonee Falls North High School and earned her bachelors and masters teaching degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Carol worked as a teacher in the New Berlin School District for 34 years specializing in Business, Accounting, and Keyboarding. In her final teaching years, she was a long-term substitute at Menomonee Falls High School. Carol took pride in her teaching, seeing many of her students go on to have successful lives and careers in business. She has maintained many lifelong relationships with her students spanning from her start in 1977 to retirement in the late 2000s.
She was an absolute pillar in her community. Carol was famous for turning a walk around the block into hours-long conversations with friends and neighbors. Spending her life in her beloved Menomonee Falls, she built relationships that lasted a lifetime. A lifeline of support for countless friends, Carol never stopped showing up for her people. With summers off as a teacher, she created beautiful experiences for her children. Daily adventures in the early years were followed by hundreds of sports activities each summer between all her kids. While the sports schedules may have overwhelmed others, Carol and John thrived and forged treasured relationships. Despite the rigorous schedules, sports never got in the way of her planning (to the last detail) multiple annual family vacations. Her college visits to UW-Madison were always accompanied by a care package and a great time. Traveling with family was always a high priority, and Carol continued to do this with her growing family throughout her courageous cancer battle.
Carol embodied a love of life, family, and friends. She valiantly fought her cancer, beating all the odds and winning many battles along the way. All the 6 years after her diagnosis, she continued to live a rich and meaningful life, and in her last years was able to maximize her time in one of her favorite roles as Grandma. A true role model for her family and friends, what she taught us will never be forgotten.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, John Rubatt; her four children, Jennifer Rubatt (Ian Connor), Daniel Rubatt (Katie Colton-Rubatt), Matthew Rubatt (Sarah Rubatt), and Adam Rubatt; her four grandchildren, Jameson Connor (Jenni & Ian), and Ava, Lucy, and Mia Rubatt (Matt & Sarah); her siblings, Mary Kubesch (Mark Kubesch), Barbara Brown (daughter Allison Pratt), Debby Coon (Bob Coon and children Jenny, Nicholas, Christoper, and Jessica), and John Bruss (Andrea Bruss). She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Delores Bruss.
A funeral will be held on Sunday, August 23rd at Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home, N84 W17937 Menomonee Ave, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 with visitation beginning at 1:00pm, and the service starting at 4pm. All who knew Carol are welcome to attend. Please join us for a gathering after the service at North Hills Country Club, food and drink will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in support of the We Care Fund at the Medical College of Wisconsin at this LINK (Click here to donate). Please mark the checkbox notifying this is a memorial gift in honor of Carol Rubatt.
If you prefer to mail a check the mailing address is:
Medical College of Wisconsin
Attn: Office of Institutional Advancement
PO Box 26509
Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509
