Kris Klingbeil, 54

Kris A. “Mz Kriz” Klingbeil, 54, of Highland died on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 10 at First Congregational Church in Highland. A memorial funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 10 at First Congregational Church in Highland, with the Rev. Greg S. Brady, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland.

She was born on July 19, 1961 in Highland to Alan and Janice (Wiess) Draper. On April 22, 1983, she married Steven Edward Klingbeil in Highland, and he survives in Highland.

Mrs. Klingbeil was a 1979 graduate of Highland High School. In high school, she was the No. 1 tennis team player for HHS and was the first female athlete to go to state competition from Highland. She went on to play tennis at Eastern Illinois University for two years. She also taught tennis for several years.

For several summers, she choreographed summer musicals while attending Eastern. She received her master’s degree from Eastern in 1983.

After college, she managed the Child Care Center at Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis. She worked in the Child Development Laboratory at Vashon High School in St. Louis for eight years, then for Children’s Home and Aid Society for the state of Illinois, running the Therapeutic Day Care Program, monitoring foster homes. She taught preschool at St. Paul Catholic School in Highland for four years. She also worked as a legislative liaison for former state Rep. Ron Stevens for several years. This past year, she was a representative for Premier Designs, a Bible-based jewelry company, with proceeds benefiting missions.

Mrs. Klingbeil had made two mission trips to Nicaragua, where she and her husband sponsored a child. She had taught Sunday school for 12 years at First Congregational Church, where she was a member. She was also a member of Mosaic Church in Highland.

She started roller skating at age 14 months. She ultimately skated in regional and national competitions, winning many medals.

She enjoyed traveling to the beach and Mexico.

She loved to decorate, and she was a good cook. She liked to fix meals for other people.

She had a passion of caring for animals and was a member of the Madison County Humane Society.

Other survivors include her mother, who lives in Highland; a son, Steven C. Klingbeil of St. Louis, Mo.; and her paternal grandfather, Willis K. Draper of Highland.

She was preceded in death by her father, who died on June 12, 2011; paternal grandmother, Bernice A. Draper (nee Jacobs), who died on Sept. 24, 2002; maternal grandfather, Ralph W. Wiess, who died on Aug. 26, 1982; and her maternal grandmother, Vera L. Wiess (nee Kueker), who died on Oct. 5, 1999.

Memorials may be made to Nicaragua Christian Education Foundation (NiCE) or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 10:07 AM with the headline "Kris Klingbeil, 54."