Kevin Edward Jekel, age 74 of Arnold, Mo., peacefully passed away and was Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Saturday April 12, 2025.
Born June 28, 1950, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late Edward and Jane (Seaver) Jekel, Kevin grew up as one of nine children. He graduated from Augustinian Academy in 1968 and the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1972. The following year, he married Dorothy (Longo) on May 5, 1973, and the two remained married until his death, a time of nearly 52 years. Kevin and Dorothy lived in St. Louis, where he began work at Roadway Express and where they welcomed four daughters—Stacy, Megan, Courtney, and Katie. In 1983, Kevin’s job took the family to Quincy, Ill., where the family later welcomed a fifth child, Cullen. The family moved to Blue Springs, Mo., in 1992. Kevin and Dorothy stayed around Kansas City until 2019 when they returned to the St. Louis area.
Kevin loved spending time with his family doing a range of activities. He read a prodigious number of books, and one could find him each morning reading the local newspaper with a cup of coffee close at hand. He enjoyed golfing, playing catch, swimming, playing and coaching soccer, and following the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, and Kansas City Chiefs.
Between 2006 and 2020, Kevin welcomed a total of thirteen grandchildren. He doted on every single one of them, spoiling them, loving them unconditionally, proudly championing them in all their endeavors. He was a wonderful, warm grandpa.
He will be missed by all, but his presence will be forever remembered.
In addition to his parents, Edward and Jane, Kevin was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Alphonso and Catherine Longo; brother, Bart Jekel; and brothers-in-law, Alphonso and Patrick Longo, Donald Munster, Edward Conner and John McDuffy.
He is survived by his daughter, Stacy Ultican of Omaha, Neb.; daughter Megan Pardeck (Jonathan) of Webster Groves, Mo.; daughter Courtney Finley (James) of Bentonville, Ark.; daughter Katie Hou (James) of Spring, Texas; and son Cullen Jekel (Kathleen) of Kansas City, Mo. Kevin and Dorothy’s grandchildren are: Aiden Ultican, Riley Ultican, Molly Pardeck, Abigail Pardeck, Eleanor Pardeck, Connor Pardeck, Quinn Finley, Connaghan Hou, Delainey Hou, Eliot Hou, Declan Hou, Kemper Jekel, and Henry Jekel.
Kevin is also survived by his siblings: Janie Dowd (Jim), Karen Munster, Gerard Jekel, Darcy Jakopchek (Tom), Maura Jekel, Barry Jekel and Tracy Milligan (Dan), as well as sister-in-law Mary Carol Jekel. Additionally, he is survived by siblings-in-law: Rose Marie Conner, John Longo (Sandy), Mary Bohn (Charlie), Helen McDuffy, and Frank Longo. He is survived by many, many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish in Webster Groves, Mo. Burial will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Arnold, Mo. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Kutis Affton Chapel, located at 10151 Gravois Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63123.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration to honor the memory of Kevin Jekel.