Dolores Lo Eickelmann

Dolores Eickelmann (Miller), 93, of Cuba, passed away peacefully at her home in Cuba with the comforting presence of her loving family on Saturday, May 11, 2024. 

On November 16, 1930, Dolores, was born to the union of Robert Miller and Evelyn (Weirmeyer) in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Dolores was united in marriage to Elmer Eickelmann on November 25, 1950, in St. Louis and many years later after Elmers passing in 1990, she would then go to marry Gene Smith at Trinity Chapel in Cuba. 

Dolores was an entrepreneur through and through. Her gift and passion of operating businesses and being a boss came when her husband Elmer's bakery was starting to take off becoming busier with popularity and he desperately needed her help in steering that ship in the right direction. With her help Eickelmann's Bakery which started in 1958 in St. Louis would later become Eickelmann's Bakery Deli and would serve the community of Cuba and surrounding communities from 1971-1997. Along with being the "boss" Dolores was also a very talented cake decorator for the bakery. 

Prior to her career in the bakery, Dolores was a loving and doting mother, making sure that her children, Walter, Karl and Fred were taken care of while Elmer was operating the bakery. 

Dolores was a talented artist, exceling in painting and drawing. She had even been taking courses through the mail for a Norman Rockwell Drawing class that she would then have to retire when she ultimately started at the bakery. In her younger years, Dolores enjoyed riding horses and tending to her chickens.  

After the bakery closed in 1997, Dolores decided that her plans for retirement wasn't to sit on a beach in some faraway land or to buy an R.V. and go road tripping, nope, she decided to go to COLLEGE! She would attend East Central College and later would begin doing accounting bookwork and taxes for many local businesses in the Cuba area. Dolores could also be seen knocking on doors selling Mary Kay Cosmetics. 

When the day's work was done and the businesses were closed, there was nothing that compared to the love, happiness and memorable moments that she got from her family and friends who she absolutely adored.  

Dolores was a pillar of the community and through her and Elmer's bakery, she not only provided sweet treats and filled empty bellies, but she treated everyone like family and offered them respect. She never met a stranger and would do what she could to help someone out in a rough time. 
Her absence will not just be felt by her family and friends but by generations of this communities' families that were lucky enough to have walked through the doors of the bakery and to be greeted by a friendly smile. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Eickelmann; one son, Walter Eickelmann and his wife Patsy; one grandson, Robert Eickelmann; two siblings, Helen Rickus and Robert "Bob" Miller Jr.; her parents, Robert & Evelyn Miller. 

Dolores is survived by her husband, Gene Smith of St. Louis and his family; two sons, Karl Eickelmann of Florida and Fred Eickelmann and wife Evette of Cuba; one sister, Susan Thorson and husband Roger of Illinois; three grandchildren, Tanna Eickelmann of Cuba, Charles Eickelmann and wife Cassie of Florida and Ryan Eickelmann and wife Danielle of Florida; one step-grandchild, Heather Looney and husband Nick of Florida; two great-grandchildren, Gavin Morgan and Peter Eickelmann; other relatives and many friends. 

A Visitation will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba. A Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, also at Mizell Funeral Home. Interment with graveside service will take place following the funeral service at Meramec Hills Memorial Lawn in Cuba. 

Memorial Donations are appreciated to St. Jude. 

Arrangements are under the compassionate care of Mizell Funeral Home.