Mildred Pueppke

Ava, Missouri

Mildred Willidee Pueppke, 94 years, 3 months, 27 days old, passed to Heaven on December 28, 2016 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center, Ava, MO.

Mildred was born September 1, 1922, the oldest of eight children, in Squires, MO to Earl and Dicie Rae (Jennings) Hardcastle. Mildred attended Douglas County schools, and graduated from Ava High School in 1941.

She worked in a defense plant in Kansas City, MO making gliders for WW II, until June 26, 1944 when she returned to Ava and married Capt. Willard Pueppke. After the ending of the war they returned to their farm west of Ava where they raised their two sons, James and Larry.

Mildred worked in the Douglas County Court House for 25 years, 10 years in the County Tax office, 15 years in the County Clerk's office.

Mildred was a Christian and a member of the Ava Art Guild. She enjoyed painting, gardening and cooking. Her joy was her family!

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Willard in 2011, one son, James Edward, two brothers, Eldon and Robert Hardcastle, one sister, Alta McGill, and one half sister, Sybil Hardcastle.

Mildred is survived by her son, Larry and wife, Sandy of Ava, two grandsons, Kirk & Shauna Pueppke, and Kasey Pueppke, all of Ava, MO, one great grandson, James, two great granddaughters, Sophia and Briella, three step great grandsons, Nathon, Kyle, and Colby, two sisters, Freeda Adams and Betty Taylor, two brothers, Earl Jr. Hardcastle, and Donald Hardcastle and wife, Judy, many nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral services for Mildred will be Friday, December 30, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO with burial following in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday prior to service at 1:00 p.m. to service time in the funeral home. Officiating will be Pastor Oren Alcorn. Memorials may be made to the Ava Art Guild or Douglas County Historical Society & Museum.