Dorothy Jean Hilgert Kuegel of Jacksonville NC passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

Dorothy was born in Thorpe, Wisconsin on July 10, 1939, to the late John and Laura Hilgert. She was preceded in death by her sister, Evelyn Thomas of Jacksonville, Margie Erhart of Orono, Maine, brother Frank Hilgert of Thorpe, Wisconsin and grandson Jonathan Palmero of Jasonville, NC.  Dorothy was married to the late George Kuegel for 41 years. After high school graduation, she and a friend moved to Orange County California and there she met the love of her life, George Kuegel, a young dashing Marine.  Three months later they were married. Soon after their marriage, George was stationed at Camp Lejeune and they made their first home at Tarawa Terrace but later bought their first house on Preston Road where they raised their five children.

Dorothy is survived by Bradley Kuegel (Donna) of Jacksonville, Mark (Keri Clark) of Titusville, Florida, Cathy Stone of Jacksonville, Brenda Carroll (Jimmy) of Clayton and Susan Kuegel (Jerry Edwards) of Hampstead.  Grandchildren Cameron Kuegel (Cynthia Hartman) of North Topsail Beach, Allyson Kuegel of Raleigh, Crystal Kuegel of Jacksonville, Flora Ortiz of Jacksonville, Alicia Kuegel (Dan Yodvilai) of Titusville, Fla., Ethan Carroll of Clayton, Seth Carroll of Clayton. Three great grandchildren, Joshua Ortiz of Jacksonville and Aiden and Vayda Yodvilai of Titusville, Fla.  Dorothy possessed a warm, kind spirit to everyone who knew her and in that same vein of giving she made the decision to donate her body to the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.  No funeral services are planned.