Carol Jean Kilburg

A golden heart stopped beating on September 26, 2025, when Carol Jean Kilburg, age 88, passed at MercyOne Genesis, in Davenport, IA. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, October 3, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Preston, IA. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., prior to Mass. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, in Preston.

Carol was born July 18, 1937, in Buckeye, IA, the daughter of Harry and Effie (Bristol) Drury. She attended Preston schools, graduating from Preston High School with the class of 1954. On May 24, 1955, Carol wed her beloved, Robert Kilburg. Soon after their marriage, Bob and Carol purchased his family farm. In 1968, the couple moved to town and purchased the Preston Locker. Bob continued farming full-time, until 1974, when the demands of his other businesses required him to cut back his personal involvement with his crop. Through those many decades of business, Carol dutifully kept records for the farm and locker, supporting her family in both the home and in business.

Carol was exceedingly proud of her family, and she made sure they knew it! She made sure to attend as many of her children’s and grandchildren’s events as possible. This led to her becoming quite the sports fan, always cheering on her Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Fever. As a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Carol was proud of her church, regularly volunteering her time and efforts.

When she would occasionally take some time to herself, she enjoyed puzzles, playing cards, dominos, and sewing with the ladies at St. Joseph’s, and at the Lutheran Church. Carol and Bob made multiple trips to Colorado and California, and spent many weekends at the horse racing tracks. Carol lived a life of family, faith, and joy, and for so many years it seemed as though that life would never come to an end. But as we all know, our time on this earth is finite; but the beautiful thing is…through our Lord and savior, she will now live on for eternity.

Carol will be dearly missed by her four sons, Joseph (Joni) Kilburg, of Preston, IA, Curtis (Chris) Kilburg, of Preston, IA, Rodney (Theresa) Kilburg of Goose Lake, IA, and Patrick (Diane) Kilburg of Cedar Rapids, IA; daughter, Roxanne (Matt) Kilburg Plavan, of Wichita, KS; 10 grandchildren, Ryan (Bridget) Kilburg, Darin (Jenni) Kilburg, Jesse (Jenna) Kilburg, Nathan (Fay) Kilburg, Keevyn (Mary) Kilburg, Abbey Kilburg, Nashua (Alex) Glew, Jacob Kilburg, Nick Kilburg, and Marquel (Paul) Patton; 10 great-grandchildren, Camille, Lauren, Emersyn, Eva, Kaden, Nolan, Kaison, Gavin, Grayson, Ace; brother, Jim (Pat) Drury; sister-in-law Gerry Drury and many beloved nieces and nephews. Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Robert, and her parents, Harry and Effie; brothers, Bob Drury and Donnie (Wanda) Drury; five sisters-in-law, Agnes (John) McCarthy, Katherine (Victor) Bormann, Marie (Edmund) Schmidt, RoseMary (Ronald) Till and Mildred (Sylvester) Driscoll; three brothers-in-law, Arnold (JoAnne) Kilburg, Raymond (Rita) Kilburg, Herbert (Sally) Kilburg.