Cara Dawn (Malmberg) Kilman

On Tuesday, October 30th, 2018, Cara Dawn (Malmberg) Kilman, loving wife and mother from Loudon, NH, passed away at age 66.

Born on October 14th, 1952, in Iowa City, IA to Zola Mae Chelf and Lawrence Harold Malmberg, Cara grew up on a farm in Lone Tree, IA until 1960 when her family moved to Iowa City. Cara received a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Education at University of Iowa in 1974. She worked as a Spanish teacher and did administrative work for Iowa Beef Processors until meeting her husband through a church connection. Cara married Massachusetts native, Ernest Edward Kilman, Jr., on January 1, 1983. Together they built a new life in New Hampshire and raised two daughters. In addition to caring for her family, Cara worked for Tupperware then JoAnn Fabrics where she imparted her love for sewing and creating for 20 years.

Throughout her life, Cara was a loyal woman of faith and community formed from deep Midwestern roots valuing hospitality, integrity, and humility. She appreciated family history and tradition. Cara offered care and wisdom to her marriage, found great joy in her roles of mother and grandmother, and always enjoyed a good chat with a friend. She was creative, lacking in pretense, and had a strong work ethic. Cara demonstrated her love for others through encouraging her daughters' passions and endeavors, making countless meals, jams, and desserts from scratch, constructing dresses and clothes for her girls, and giving time to assist church ministry behind the scenes. She was a marvelous baker, keeping recipes alive from her mother and giving gifts for celebrations and holidays, including creating gorgeous wedding cakes for friends. Cara also had a deep love for music, both performing, listening, and teaching. She sang in the Concord Chorale, directed the Concord Christian School High School choir, judged choir competitions, performed in a hand bell choir, and served as church pianist. Cara loved God, her family, and her church. She will be greatly missed.

Cara was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence, mother, Zola, and older sisters, Sandra Balke and Joyce Tardiff. She is survived by her husband Ernest, daughters Rebekah and Lydia, and granddaughter, Iola, as well as many nieces and nephews residing in the Midwest.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 10th at Faith Community Bible Church, 334 North Village Rd, Loudon, NH 03307. The family will receive visitors at 10:30 a.m. and services will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception at the church. Cara will be laid to rest in Loudon Ridge Cemetery at a private burial.

The family wishes to thank Faith Community Bible Church along with friends and family for their continuous prayers, love, and support.