Carolyn Koehler

Carolyn Wanda “Cakee” Koehler, 70, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at her home after a valiant battle with cancer.

She was born Dec. 24, 1946, in St. Louis to Arthur and Connie Klotzbach Sturm.

After graduating from high school in St. Louis, Carolyn graduated from the former Moler beauty school in 1968. She worked many years as a beautician in St. Louis before moving to Cape Girardeau.

In 1985, she met Kenneth Koehler. They were married July 29, 1989, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson. Her first priority was to their seven children, but she also helped Kenneth operate Fireside Catering.

Carolyn was a talented crafter and floral designer. She made the flower arrangements for the weddings of all her children and family members. She loved to cook and host family gatherings, read, and be outside enjoying the sunshine in her pool or working in her shrubs and flowers.

She is loved and remembered as a devoted wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt and friend.

Loving survivors include her husband of 28 years, Kenneth Koehler of Jackson; six children, Steve (Linda) Boaz of Cape Girardeau, Kenny Ray (Pam) Koehler of Jackson, Jason (Tracey) Towell of Jackson, Kelly Sutton (Jim Cain) of Biehle, Missouri, Michael (Kristina “Red”) Towell of Albany, Georgia, and Adam (Amanda) Koehler of Sedgewickville, Missouri; 13 grandchildren, Joshua (Cameron) Koehler, Zachary (Courtney) Thrower, Tyler Sutton, Shailey (Tony) Phillips and daughter Sophia, Rhea (Darrell) Rhoads and children Savannah and Brody, Lauren Riney, Kaylie Sutton, Alex Foster, Elizabeth “Izzy” Foster, Carolyn “Cakee” Koehler, Aidan Towell, Brady Cain, and Blake Cain; lifelong best friend, Joy (Bill) Friedrich of Jackson; and three siblings, Arthur “Sonny” Sturm of St. Louis, Diana Squires (Jeff Frankenberry) of Grapevine, Texas, and Connie (Terry) Hudgins of Dallas.

She was preceded in death by a son, Gabe Koehler; her parents, Arthur and Connie Sturm; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clem and Dora Koehler.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. to service time Tuesday in Chapel A of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Tony Dunn officiating. A private burial will be at a later date.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.