Carla Jean Stoa

Carla Jean Stoa, age 68, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Methodist Campus. Carla was born on September 18, 1957, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Morris and Arletta (Olson) Woods. Carla grew up in Glenville, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school before attending Austin Vo-Tech for cosmetology. On August 2, 1980, Carla married Roger Stoa in Glenville, and together raised two children, Amanda and Brian.

Carla began her professional journey as a law enforcement dispatcher for Mower County, a role she held for 20 years. Her commitment and leadership earned her and her team numerous accolades during her service from 1979 to 1999. After her stint with Mower County, she worked at Mel’s Diner in Ellendale, Clothing Care Dry Cleaning in Albert Lea, and spent the last 10 working years at Cedar House in Albert Lea, where she earned the title of the house mom, taking care of cooking, cleaning, and transporting until 2014 when she retired.

Carla was known for her passion for knitting and crocheting, creating beautiful slippers, afghans, and rugs, that she generously shared with friends and family. Her unwavering support for her family and community, along with her calm and collected demeanor, made her a cherished presence in the lives of those who knew her. Above all, Carla cherished her role as a grandmother. She was a lifelong member of Moscow Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her mother, Arletta Woods; daughter, Amanda and her husband, Donnie Juenger (Michael, Gabriel, Josephine, Degan, and Keandra) of Austin, Minnesota; son, Brian and his wife, Deborah (Evangeline, Adelynn, and Rosalind) of Hartford, Wisconsin; siblings, Mike (Renee) Woods of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, Steve Woods of Northwood, Iowa, Shelley Gulbrandson of Glenville, Minnesota, and Jeff (Tami) Woods of Medford, Minnesota; and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her father, Morris Woods in 1990; husband, Roger in 2023; and brother-in-law, Gary Gulbrandson.

A memorial service for Carla will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Moscow Lutheran Church, rural Austin, Minnesota. The visitation will take place from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin, Minnesota, and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be held in the Spring at Moscow Lutheran Cemetery, rural Austin, Minnesota. She will be interred with her husband, Roger. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.