Carole Ann Kueker was born into meager beginnings on April 27, 1940, the eldest child of Lowell and Marion Durkee of Chester, Illinois. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on September 23, 2026. Her indomitable spirit, feistiness, and persistence will out live her and will be fondly remembered by her husband, sister, nephew, three children, seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren for ages.
Perhaps owing to her humble start in life, Carole displayed an ability for arithmetic, budgeting, and business from a very early age. She took a keen interest in card playing and was a strong player in games that required a person to remember what had been discarded, what the probability of receiving just the right card was, and remembering how many cards others drew. Carole kept a very good poker face, but a very poor “poker leg”. When Carole had a strong hand in draw poker, her left leg would bounce up and down, boiling over with excitement about showing the winning hand. No doubt her poker leg cost her more than a few quarters at the poker table over the years.
Carole also displayed a keen interest in Paul Kueker. After a brief courtship, they were quickly married on July 26, 1958. This began a 68 year marriage and partnership that had its trials and its triumphs, but more triumphs than heartache. This partnership allowed both of them to lean in to their talents, Paul’s strong work ethic and farming experience ran day-to-day operations of the family farm. Carol’s sense of the numbers and precision allowed them to stretch a nickel to a dime when necessary and always know where the numbers stood after harvest.
Most importantly, the farming life brought a trusted and dear set of friends who understood the unique struggles and joys of farm life, many of whom have also passed away and are remembered here with great love and admiration.
Carole worked as a secretary at the Bois Brule Elementary School and the Perry County School District at Sereno, which she enjoyed immensely.
She was fiercely independent and driven to succeed. She was highly motivated by being told she couldn’t or that “women shouldn’t”. Carole studied for and at one time passed all examinations and coursework needed to maintain licensure in Missouri to be a real estate broker/agent, appraiser, and insurance agent. She was likely the first female real estate broker to open a sole proprietorship real estate business in Perryville, Kueker Farm and Home Realty, which opened in the early 1980’s. She greatly enjoyed running her own business, employing other talented agents, and helping people in her community find their perfect home or farm.
Carole (and Paul for that matter) did enjoy the fruits of their labor and diligence, becoming adventurous and frequent travelers throughout her life, enjoying the sights and sounds of New York, Las Vegas, and Lake Tahoe equally with places as far-flung as Aruba, Ireland, and The Netherlands. Paul and Carole took special care to share their travels with their grandchildren when they turned 21 – grandchildren received a trip with grandma and grandpa to wherever they wanted to go (within reason). Most grandchildren reported back the same – having a wonderful time and learning so much more about their grandparents – and having to retire for the night before grandma and grandpa ever did!
To know her was to love her. She had a manner of speaking and writing that was all her own. Cursing sparingly, you knew something really got under her skin when she used the term “daggum”. “Yous” was a unique pronoun used by Carole, usually before some pearl of wisdom or advise, and could refer to anywhere from 1 to 100 people. Her grandchildren always loved receiving a birthday card in the mail in her distinctive penmanship, with “quotation marks” surrounding seemingly “random” words but typically understood as their grandmother’s way to emphasize a phrase or word. “Kid” referred to anyone from the ages of 7 to 70, but more often was used to refer to full-grown adults with love. Like the sun rising in the east, a gift of money from Carole would always be immediately followed by, “Now yous put that somewhere safe, kid”.
She loved her flower beds and was a member of the Perry County Garden Club. As her physical activity waned, she enjoyed watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball and the NFL. Her and Paul hosted Super Bowl parties before it became the thing to do. She loved her beagle, Little Bit, and used any opportunity she could to give him love and treats – so many treats that he could resembled a small ottoman before going on a diet. She was a highly underrated cook, creating spreads for family holiday gatherings into her 70’s.
We will miss you terribly. We already do. This daggum disease robbed you of your “memories” but it won’t rob us of “ours”. Yous are somewhere safe now, so rest now, kid. We love you.
Survivors include husband, Paul Kueker; daughter, Kathleen S. (Phillip) Viscuso of Fenton, MO; two sons, Steven P. (Jane) Kueker of Perryville, Michael D. (Tracy) Kueker of Perryville; sister, Linda (Togar) White of Atlanta, GA; seven grandchildren, Katelyn (Nick) Schaflein, Kristopher (Laura) Kueker, Dustin (Megan) Kueker, Rev. Jesse (Alyssa) Kueker, Andrea (Richie) Bohn, Michaela Kueker, Alicia Kueker; thirteen great-grandchildren and expecting one more granddaughter; nephew, Doug (Esther) Jordan; cousin, Karen Miller.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter-in-law, Sherry Kueker; brother-in-Law, Don Jordan.
Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Ford & Young Funeral Home in Perryville. Visitation will continue from 8:00 am to 9:50 am on Friday, October 2, 2026 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville.
Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am Friday, October 2, 2026 at Immanuel Lutheran Church Perryville with Rev. Joseph Schlie officiating.
Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Journey Hospice or Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in memory of Carole Kueker.
Online condolences may be made at www.fordandyoungfuneralhome.com.
Ford & Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.