The Sydney Thiele Kuehler Wildflower Garden was created to honor the memory of Sydney Thiele Kuehler. Sydney joined the Board of Directors of the Jim Bob Art Park & Nature Trails in January 2023 and became an inspiration for all those involved in the Park.

We are in the very beginning stages of building the Garden.

A little about Sydney – she grew up at Lake Kemp, graduated from Seymour High School in 2008 and then attended Midwestern State University earning a bachelor’s degree in art (BFA) in 2013 while she worked in the Fine Arts Department at MSU. She and her husband Aaron moved to St. Louis, Missouri where she completed an internship in stone carving and then began work at Laumeier Sculpture Park in the education department. She loved working at Laumeier and then discovered something unexpected. She loved art but never saw herself as an art teacher - until she taught. So now she didn’t just love art, she loved teaching art. We all came to know Sydney as an inspirational artist, dedicated educator, and passionate advocate for art, animals, and children.

I didn’t know Sydney for very long, just a little over a year, but in getting to know her I discovered her depth of knowledge about the field of art, her passion for teaching and the kids at Benjamin School, her kindness, her sense of fun, her sense of humor, and her strength. She radiated genuine sweetness of heart and yet was tough as nails. Sydney was gone too soon. She died of cancer on April 13, 2024, at the age of 34 surrounded by her loving family.

To honor her memory and life, a wildflower garden is being created. It will be a space for beauty, for quiet contemplation, and a natural space that embraces good stewardship of the land. Flowers and plants embody the beauty of color, pattern, shape, and uniqueness of form. The garden will be designed to include native and drought-tolerant plants and flowers. Very importantly, it will also serve as a pollinator garden. Among the flowers and plants, sculpture and benches will be installed, allowing visitors to rest, contemplate, reflect, and perhaps find a peaceful moment in time.

The Board of Directors of the Jim Bob Art Park & Nature Trails is honored to create a garden in memory of Sydney.