Dr. Eduard Quiko

September 15, 1941 – September 20, 2026

Dr. Eduard Quiko, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, professor, and longtime member of the Ozarks community, passed away September 20, 2026, at the age of 85.

Eduard was born September 15, 1941, in the historic Portuguese village of Tugu, outside Jakarta, Indonesia. In 1961, at just 20 years old, he left Indonesia for the United States to pursue his education, beginning a journey that would take him halfway around the world and ultimately lead him to make the Ozarks his home.

He attended Bethel College as an undergraduate and later earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University, where his doctoral work focused on Indonesian politics and foreign policy.

In 1970, Eduard began a 33-year career teaching political science at what was then School of the Ozarks and later became College of the Ozarks. He retired in 2003 as Professor Emeritus of Political Science.

Teaching was more than a profession for Eduard; it was something he truly loved. He was passionate about politics and international affairs and challenged his students to think deeply about the world around them. He was also known for walking between classes, and his students quickly learned that if they wanted to talk with him, they would have to walk alongside him. During his tenure, more than 85 of his students went on to become lawyers—a legacy of teaching and mentorship that extended far beyond his classroom. When he retired, he summed up his years at the College simply: “I have loved it here.”

His intellectual curiosity never retired. He remained engaged in international affairs and scholarship throughout his life, continuing to write, travel, learn, and contribute to academic work well into his 80s. Although America became his home, Indonesia remained an important part of who he was and central to his scholarship.

But his degrees, titles, and professional accomplishments tell only part of his story.

To us, he was Dad, Grandpa, and Opa.

Eduard never met a stranger. He could strike up a conversation with almost anyone and was genuinely interested in people and their lives. More importantly, he would never turn away someone in need. Whether it was a student seeking guidance, a friend who needed help, or someone he had only just met, helping others was simply part of who he was.

He had his stories, his humor, his strong opinions and, yes, his stubbornness. He loved conversation, traveling, learning, and sharing experiences with the people around him.

Eduard shared 50 years of marriage with his wife, Lily Quiko, with whom he built the family and life that meant so much to him.

He is survived by his wife, Lily; his son, Dr. Albin Santo Quiko and his wife, Erin, of Ozark, Missouri; his daughter, Anjelica Quiko Davis and her husband, Joshua, of Springfield, Missouri; his grandchildren, Patrick, Jordan, Ian, Reilly, and Andrew; and his great-grandchildren, Isla and Cyrus.

Eduard’s life began in a small village in Indonesia and stretched across countries, cultures, classrooms, and generations. At a young age, he crossed an ocean and took a chance on a future he could not yet have imagined. The life he built created opportunities for generations of his family and touched generations of his students.

We will miss his stories, his humor, his opinions, and the unmistakable presence he brought wherever he went. Most of all, we will simply miss having him here.

We are grateful for the life he lived, the people he helped, the family he built, and the years we were fortunate enough to have with him.

•             “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela
• 
  

A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa with a memorial service following at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital are welcome. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?msockid=04eba1f51ec7615a06e7b0471f6f60fa

Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Home and cremation rites are accorded by Adams Crematory.