Obituary of Dorothy Jeannette Harke

A Mass of Christian Burial for Dorothy “Dot” Jeannette Harke of Lake St. Louis, MO, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Old Monroe, MO. Fr. Richard Rath, church pastor, will officiate. Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Carter-Ricks Funeral Home Facebook page for anyone wishing to participate from a distance. Dot, 85, passed away Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, MO. Born December 2, 1935 in Overland, MO, she was the daughter of Walter and Rose (Gardner) McCullen. She was united in marriage on February 15, 1958 in Overland, MO to Carl Francis Harke. This union was blessed with five children: Doug, Linda, Julie, Becky, and Valerie. Dot was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul, MO. Dot worked as a secretary at McDonnell Douglas, Monsanto, and Emerson Electric, where she ended her career. She owned a consignment shop, enjoyed bargain shopping and was an avid reader. With optimism and a kind heart, she made friends everywhere by striking up conversations with strangers. Dot was a proud advocate for her son, Doug, and the Down Syndrome Community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Rose McCullen; her son-in-law, Philip “Tom” Herberger; one sister, Mary Ann Webster; and her beloved husband of 55 years, Carl Harke, who passed on September 2, 2013. Survivors include one son, Doug Harke of Troy, MO; four daughters: Linda Herberger of Wentzville, MO; Julie Stewart of Manchester, MO; Becky Thiemann and her husband, Kirk, of Wentzville, MO; and Valerie Harke of Lake St. Louis, MO; six grandchildren: Krista Herberger, Tiffany Snipes, Lindsey Stewart, Eric Wilburn, Melanie Thiemann, and Brianna Thiemann; as well as four great-grandchildren. She also leaves two sisters: Theresa Mueller and her husband, Vincent, of North Redington Beach, FL; and Karen Jones and her husband, Mark, of St. Peters, MO; one brother, Timothy McCullen and his wife, Patricia, of Lake St. Louis, MO; as well as many other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to The Shrine of St. Joseph’s Friends, Inc., 1220 N. 11th Street, St. Louis, MO, 63106.