Iola Cecilia Kuehl

Iola Cecilia Kuehl (“Olie”), 90, formerly of Elkader, IA, passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at home in St. Robert, MO. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held July 10, 2010 in the Hope Lutheran Church of Littleport, Iowa. Iola was born on March 5, 1919, to William and Adeline (Schulte) Vorwald, in rural Garber, IA. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Church, Garber, IA. She attended rural school #5 Volga Township, St. Joseph’s High School, Elkader Jr. College, and Upper Iowa College at Fayette, where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Olie taught for a total of 38 years in Clayton County schools; in the country schools of Volga, Jefferson, and Boardman Townships, and central Community Schools in Elkader as a kindergarten teacher. Olie was united in marriage to Elmer Kuehl of rural Elkport on December 26, 1940. In 1963 they were blessed with the adoption of two infant daughters from Seoul, Korea. In 1972 Olie joined her husband’s church, Immanuel Lutheran Church of Elkport, where she was a vital and active member for many years. In 2005, she moved to St. Robert, MO, to live with her daughter and son-in-law, after her husband’s death in 2004. She cherished spending time with her family, writing letters, reading, and in later years, talking on the phone to relatives and friends. Her love for teaching continued into her retirement and later years, as she helped many children with their skills in reading and writing. She is survived by her daughters, Lola (David) Herman of West Bloomfield, MO, and Kim (Aaron) Stoltz of St. Robert, MO; three grandchildren, Jason (Jade) Hunt of Johnston, IA, Jamie Hunt of Fort Worth, TX, and Tyler (Christie Barcelos) Boone of Sunderland, MA; and one great-grandchild, Clay Barcelos; five sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her husband, Elmer; her parents; four sisters, Helen Voss, Marie Frommelt, Catherine Carroll and Eileen Deutsch; three brothers, Laurell, Haldane, and Cyril Vorwald. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hope Lutheran Church, Littleport, IA; The Immanuel Preservation Society, Elkport, IA; or Phelps County Regional Medical Center Hospital Foundation for Hospice, Rolla, MO. Arrangements were under the direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert. Memorial information may be found on their website and on-line condolences may be sent to: www.memorialchapeslandcrematory.com. Address: 202 Historic 66 West, Waynesville, MO 65583, (573) 774-6111.

Iola Cecilia Kuehl

March 5, 1919 - February 4, 2010