Margaret Kay (Wenzel) Threlkeld

Margaret Kay Threlkeld, 81, of Carterville, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with reflections by her family.  Burial will be in Willowrest Cemetery in Carterville.  Visitation will begin after 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the funeral home.

Kay was born November 11, 1942, in DuQuoin, Illinois, to Anthony Alton and Virginia (Cole) Wenzel.  She married Larry Duncan in October 1958.  Kay later married Gary Lee Halstead in June 1969.  He preceded her in death in a car accident in 1985.  In June 1990, she married Melvin Lee Threlkeld.  He preceded her in death on December 6, 2002.

She is survived by her children, Kevin Duncan of Makanda, Adam Troy Duncan of Carterville, Brent (Sonja) Duncan of Munich, Germany, Michelle Halstead-Baxter of Carterville, and James Halstead (Dawn Griffin) of West Frankfort; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Michael (Tammy) Wenzel of Texas; and numerous additional nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands; brother, Tom Wenzel; sister, Sue Cavins; and grandchild, Haley Cochrum.

Kay and her husband, Gary Halstead pastored two churches in Illinois -- First Apostolic Church of Evansville and First Pentecostal Church of Tuscola. They were beloved and revered by many in both communities. 

Kay worked as a hostess at Prime Time Restaurant in Carbondale for many years.  She also worked in the banking industry in Carbondale, Texas and lastly at the Bank of Herrin in Carterville from where she retired in 2016.  She was highly regarded and loved by all her customers and co-workers.

Kay loved God, her Bible and her family dearly.  She thoroughly enjoyed listening to music, particularly Frank Sinatra and the "Rat Pack".  She also loved dancing, gardening and decorating her home.  Kay was an avid John Wayne fan who also liked learning about history. 

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