Carolyn Ann Koerner, incredibly loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, passed away quietly Tuesday morning, August 30, 2011 in St. Anthony Memorial Hospital, located in Effingham. Carolyn had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just two short weeks ago. Consistent with how she lived her entire life, Carolyn passed away on her own terms.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 2, 2011 at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, located on the corner of St. Louis Avenue and Third Street, in Effingham with burial in St. Anthony Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday evening, September 1, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Anthony Church with a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Anthony Educational Trust or to the Effingham Child Development Center.

Carolyn was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on February 20, 1928, the only daughter of Earl and Elfreda Roberts. She was rumored to be a "daddy's girl", and was an outstanding student and graduate of East St. Louis Senior High School. She attended Washington University in St. Louis on scholarship. She married the love of her life in May of 1949, Carl P. Koerner Jr., a strapping all-state football player, who graduated from rival East St. Louis Central Catholic High School. They remained married until Carl passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2001. That day marked the date that Carl was awarded Effingham's "Citizen of the Year", recognizing the contributions that Carl and Carolyn had made to the Effingham community.

Carl and Carolyn co-founded K & M Floral Shoppe with Lowell "Crow" and Joyce Miller in 1969. Carolyn continued to work there for most of her adult life, enjoying all her new found friends as they would come through the doors to be served. Most importantly to her, K & M Floral brought incomparable enrichment to her life through relationships she developed with her beloved "adopted" daughters: Laura Janis, Cindy Sowers and Karen Stevenson.

In 1982, Carolyn co-founded Koerner Distributor, Inc. with her husband Carl, after they purchased the business from Carl's previous employer, Jul Fischer. Carolyn served as secretary-treasurer of the corporation until her death, and played a very active role in making sure the company and its associates lived its mission statement. Carolyn and Carl also were able to invest in Lake Sara Marina, and have enjoyed watching the company provide joy to so many families.

A dear friend recently remarked that Carolyn "had finished anywhere from second to last in everything she had done!" It was not her style to be in the forefront, making no mistake however, that her tremendous intellect, compassion and genuine interest in others served those in need at a moment's notice.
Carolyn was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, and a founding member of the Effingham Zonta Club. She also served on the board of directors of the Effingham Child Development Center, warming her heart as she served children that the center provides care for. Carolyn loved the children!

Carolyn leaves to cherish her memory: daughter Lynn and her husband, Ray Wawrzeniak of St. Charles, Illinois, grandsons Geoffrey Radford, wife Joanne and beloved great grandson Mason, Kristopher Radford and his wife Micha; son, Carl P. (Phil) Koerner III and wife Carla of Effingham, granddaughters Lisa Koerner, Audra Koerner Gilmore and husband Josh, beloved great granddaughter Madelyn, Kristin Koerner, and grandson Blake Koerner; and son Paul Koerner and wife Kay of Effingham, grandsons Jordan Koerner and Christian Koerner, and granddaughter Claire Koerner.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband, as well as her special sister-in-law and brother-in-law, John and Rita Baird, and their only son John "Ronnie" Baird.