Karen Seiler

Karen Frances Seiler, 62, of Benton died Monday, June 6, 2016, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 2, 1953, in Cape Girardeau to Cyril “Bill” Earl and Flora Clara Kluesner Brucker. She married William Patrick Seiler on Aug. 2, 1975, in New Hamburg, Missouri.
She graduated summa cum laude from Southeast Missouri State University in 1975. She later obtained her masters’ in elementary education and speech pathology. She taught for 30 years, was a speech therapist and kindergarten teacher for 19 years, and remedial reading teacher for six years at Kelly and Kelso C-7 schools. She was an organist for 12 years at Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg. She was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton, its Ladies Sodality and church organist. After retiring, she volunteered at St. Denis School and taught Vacation Bible School at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Karen is survived by her husband, Bill Seiler; her mother, Flora Brucker of New Hamburg; two sons, Chad (Leeanna) Seiler of Scott City and Jarett (Rachel) Seiler of Jackson; a daughter, Emily Seiler of Benton; a brother, Gary (Beverly) Brucker of New Hamburg; a sister, Bonnie (Bill) LeGrand of Kelso and a grandson, Cole Seiler. She was preceded in death by her father and an infant sister, Sandra Brucker.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton. Parish prayers will be at 6 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Friday at the church with the Rev. Michael Casteel as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Benton.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Kelly Elementary School playground fund.