Kathleen Duncan Gelhaar

Kathleen (Duncan) Gelhaar (formerly Tucker) passed away on March 22, 2022, in Greenville, North Carolina.  She was born on April 24, 1941, in Quincy, Illinois to parents Richard P. Duncan and Eleanor (Myers) Duncan. For 33 years she was married to William Gelhaar and resided in Carthage, Illinois. Mrs. Gelhaar graduated from Unity High School in Mendon, Illinois going on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education (1963) at MacMurray College in Jacksonville. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carthage, a former board member of the Carthage Public Library, as well as a member of the Carthage chapter of P.E.O. Mrs. Gelhaar began her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher in Mt. Sterling, Illinois and later was a special education teacher at the Quincy Alternative School and Ferris School in the Hancock County School District. She also served as a proofreader for Good Apple, Inc., publisher of childrens’ educational materials, formerly located in Carthage. She was an avid reader, kind and generous and will be missed by family and friends. Memorials can be sent to the Carthage Library Foundation “In memory of Kathleen and Bill Gelhaar” - 500 Wabash Ave., Carthage, Illinois 62321

Kathleen was preceded in death by her daughter Margaret Anne Tucker on March 2, 2018, and her husband William Gelhaar on August 22, 2018.  She is survived by daughter Mary Tucker-McLaughlin of Greenville, North Carolina; stepdaughter Anne (Eric) Martin of Burnside, Illinois; stepsons David (Lisa) Gelhaar of Newport News, Virginia, and James Gelhaar of Golden, Colorado. She had two grandchildren Olivia and Jack McLaughlin of Greenville, North Carolina, and ten step-grandchildren, Taryn (Keith) Mellert of Canton, Illinois, Kirstin (Colten) Protsman of Alexandria, Missouri, Reece Martin of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Owen Martin of Burnside, Illinois, Taylor (Charlotte) Gelhaar of Findlay, Ohio, Allyson Gelhaar of Golden, Colorado, Michael (Erin) Gelhaar of Newport News, Virginia, Timothy (Alicia) Gelhaar of Fairview Heights, Illinois, Kimberly (Michael) Burns of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Amber (Brandon) Wilson of Stony Creek, Virginia.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 15, 2022, at 11:30 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Carthage located at 321 Main St., Carthage, IL 62321. An accompanying burial service will be held at 2 pm on May 15, 2022, at Ellington Memorial Presbyterian Church located at 4600 N 36th St., Quincy, IL 62305.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen Duncan Gelhaar, please visit our floral store.