Kenneth A. Schluckebier

Kenneth A. Schluckebier, 91, Palmyra, Mo., passed away on April 13, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.

Kenny was born on March 20, 1932, in rural Marion County near Palmyra to Albert W. and Ida W. Herron Schluckebier.  He was married to Juaneta Faye Johnson on May 8, 1954, at Calvary Baptist Church in Quincy, Ill. He was a beloved husband for 67 years and was widowed in January 2022.  

Kenny was a 1950 graduate of Palmyra High School and played on the varsity football team as a guard.  

He farmed for 45 years and also worked for Gardner-Denver from 1964 to 1965 as a machine operator to make ends meet at the time before retiring. He continued to work for other farming operations for another 12 years in the planting and harvesting seasons.  

Kenny enjoyed hunting and, in his lifetime, had 14 bird dogs (pointers, setters and German short hairs) used for quail hunting. Quail hunting was his passion.  

He also enjoyed sports and avidly followed the Palmyra High School football and basketball teams.  

He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1952 to 1954.  Attached to the 7th Infantry Division, he had the rank of sergeant receiving Korean Services Ribbon with (2) Bronze Stars, United Nation and National Defense Service Medals.  

He was a life member of Boots-Dickson Post No 174 of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Post 11041 Palmyra. 

Kenny was a dear father to his three children. He is survived by two daughters, Dr. Dawn (Glenn) Sharpless, Navarre, Fla; and April (Dale) Dietrich, Des Peres, Mo.; and one son, David (Juli) Schluckebier of Belton, Ky. He was a loving grandfather who is survived by grandchildren, Zach (Tiffany) Wilkinson, Portland, Tenn.; Luke (Abbey) Wilkinson, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Ashley Schmuke, Ballwin, Mo.; Ian (Dianna) Dietrich, Manchester, Mo.; Amy (Dan) Johnson, Chicago, Ill.; and Christopher  (Sydney) Schluckebier, Owens Crossroads, Ala. He was a cherished great-grandfather survived by nine great-grandchildren, Charlie Kate Wilkinson and Corbin Wilkinson, Portland, Tenn.; Maria Wilkinson, Robby Wilkinson, and John Luke Wilkinson, Elizabethtown; Beckett Schmuke and Dietrich Schmuke, Ballwin; Miles Dietrich, Manchester, Mo.; and Zaidyn Schluckebier, Owens Crossroads. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Juaneta; and parents, Albert and Ida; and brother, Emmett (Louise) Schluckebier, Keytesville, Mo.; sisters, Pearly (Irvin) Leenerts, Golden, Ill.; and Doris (Warren) Vahle, Quincy, Ill. 

His family would like to show their gratitude to Robert Meyer, Palmyra Senior Nutrition Center and the Hardees coffee group for their special relationship with Kenny.

Funeral services will be at Zion Lutheran Church on Friday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor Wes Gehrke presiding.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Palmyra, with full military honors by American Legion Post #174 Boots-Dickson.

Pallbearers will be Zach Wilkinson, Luke Wilkinson, Ian Dietrich, Chris Schluckebier, Dan Johnson and Zaidyn Schluckebier.  

Honorary pallbearers are Chet, Mike and Kirk Vahle, Lee and John Schluckebier, Dale Dietrich and Glenn Sharpless.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation to be held at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel, on Thursday, April 20, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Memorials are requested to be made to either Palmyra Senior Nutrition Center, American Legion Post 174, VFW 11041 or Zion Lutheran Church. 

Online condolences may be shared, and video tribute may be viewed at www.LewisBrothersFuneralChapel.com.