Carolyn Joyce Koboldt

Carolyn Joyce (nee: Rice) Koboldt died peacefully on November 29, 2014 at 12:55 in the afternoon at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri, while being attended to and comforted by family members. She died as a result of pneumonia. Carolyn was 78 years old.

Carolyn Koboldt was born in the town of Mount Vernon, Illinois, on January 6, 1936. She was the first child and only daughter of the late Ruth Lucille (nee: Day) Rice and Morris Rupert Rice and sister to Myles Rice and his wife Sharon of Tucson, Arizona.

She graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinois, June 25, 1954. While attending Hyde Park, Carolyn won an award for artwork she entered in the City of Chicago's Regional Exhibition. This award was preliminary to the selection of finalists for a national exhibition. In 1954, she was awarded a certificate of merit for her work in oils and subsequently won a scholarship to the Famous Artists Schools in the 27th annual National Scholastic Art Awards Competition. After graduating high school, she enrolled in the Famous Artists Course and was accepted into the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She attended classes at the institute from September 1954 through June 1956.

In 1957, she enrolled in a nine month secretarial course at Mosier Secretarial School in Chicago, Illinois, and then worked at various companies in the Chicago area doing clerical work.

Sometime after that, Carolyn moved to St. Louis and worked at the Charles K. Schweizer Company where she did scratchboard drawing and paste up work. It was there she met John Allen Koboldt. They were married in Rolla, Missouri, on May 1st,1959 and she gave birth to her first son in March of 1960. Then they moved to Spanish Lake, Missouri and set up their home.

Carolyn was a wife and mother for many years. She was a Sunday School teacher, a Girl Scout leader, and assisted her husband who was den father of a Boy Scout troop. She worked as a teacher's assistant for the St. Louis YMCA, and was a substitute teacher and cafeteria worker for the Hazelwood School District.

She was a caregiver to her husband John until his death in 1989. After that, she continued to pursue her degree in art and enrolled in Advertising Design and Commercial art classes at St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley.

She bought a Mac computer and learned how to add graphics to letters she would write to her out-of-town family members.

Carolyn enjoyed her children and grandchildren. She loved attending family birthday parties and hosted many family Christmas parties at her home in Sugartree, a condominium association in north county St. Louis. She enjoyed spending time at the condominium's swimming pool and taking care of her little dog, Poncho.

In June 2004, she moved to St. Peter's, Missouri, where she could be closer to her children. In her later years, Carolyn's memory began failing her and it became necessary for her to move into an assisted living facility. She resided in several places before finding a home at Southview Assisted Living in St. Louis, Missouri. She became comfortable there and participated in many of the activities offered including outings, afternoon socials and singing. All the staff members and other resident's family members knew her by name and she was much loved. Carolyn will be missed.

Carolyn was the beloved wife of the late John A. Koboldt; dear mother of Richard Koboldt and his wife Karen , dear mother of Karen Collins and her husband Steve, dear mother of Sandra Pratt and her husband James , and dear mother of Robert Koboldt and his fiance Lisa Olson; cherished grandmother of Samuel Collins and his wife Alysha, Benjamin Collins and his wife Chelsea, Andrew Collins and his wife Natasha, Jacob Pratt and his wife Sara, Janel Key and her husband Aaron, Erin Pajda and her husband Kevin, Tony Pratt, Megan Koboldt, Emily Koboldt, and Matthew Koboldt; loving great-grandmother of Bradley Collins, Elsie Collins, Sophia Pratt, Owen Pratt, Stella Pratt, Alaina Key, Dylan Key, Avery Key, and Noelle Pajda; and great-grandmother of two babies on the way -Kaylie Ann Collins and Baby girl Pajda.

A memorial-celebration-of-life service will be held in the spring of 2015.The date is to be determined.