Gladys Jean Griesenauer, Historian

1933-2017

Gladys Jean Griesenauer (nee Sommer), 84, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2017, into God’s Divine Kingdom, surrounded in prayer, gratitude and song by her loving family, friends, and caregivers. Shortly before her passing, she received the Anointment of Last Rites, by Monsignor Ted Wojcicki (Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Dardenne Prairie, MO.).

Gladys was born in her parents’ farmhouse, in rural Dardenne Prairie. She was the daughter of Albert William Sommer (1900 – 1992) and Coletta Rosella Sommer (nee Rhodes) (1907 – 1998).

Gladys was raised in a family and community of German-American Catholic farmers. She was baptized in the chapel, at Immaculate Conception Dardenne Prairie. As a child, she did chores on the farm and walked two miles each way to school to be educated by the Sisters of The Precious Blood Order at ICD’s grade school. She then attended Wentzville Holt High School, where she played basketball and enjoyed the competitiveness of the game. She graduated the Salutatorian of her class and earned a full scholarship to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Upon graduation from high school, she worked as a sales associate, at Stone’s Five & Ten Retail Store, in Wentzville. In 1954, she married Raymond S. Griesenauer, to whom she was wed for 63 years.

She was a loving and protective mother, great cook and meticulous homemaker. She raised her five children selflessly and instilled a Virtuous Catholic Faith and a robust work ethic into each of them.

Gladys had numerous interests and hobbies. She spent many hours researching and tracing her genealogy to complete her Family Tree. Her God-Given Gift and Talent of genealogy and history allowed her to trace her family origins and ancestry back to 1600, in Germany, and the family immigration to America in the early 1700s, and subsequent descendants that acquired a Spanish Land Grant in 1799 to form part of Dardenne Prairie. She prided herself on researching, locating, finding and preserving numerous abandoned church and family cemeteries as residential and commercial development overtook Dardenne Prairie.

Gladys’s sense of history was very much rooted in her experience at ICD. She was very proud of her family legacy and heritage by being a direct descendant to several of the founding families who constructed and erected the Immaculate Conception Church in 1897. Like her ancestors, Gladys was a lifelong member of the parish and devout Catholic.

Gladys was devoted to caring for the needs of her Immaculate Conception Parish home. Her church ministries included Parish Historian, Parish Council Board Member, Greeter at Annual Parish Dinners, Bingo Caller, Quilter and Church Caretaker.

She was a proud member of the “Daughters of The American Revolution” (DAR), St. Charles County Historical Society, St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Realtor’s Association. She was a recipient of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Medal.

She was a public speaker, published writer, and contributor to many historical articles and books. She wrote many short stories on local history. She enjoyed her honorary position as Curator of Dardenne Prairie City Hall Museum. She was very proud to be the advocate and force behind restoring Dardenne Prairie to its original name upon incorporation.

She also enjoyed traveling to Europe to research family history. She loved visiting God’s Artwork in the National Parks in the Southwest, the Northwest, and the Southeast, as she traveled to more than 30 states.

She was a voracious reader of history and of current events, collected antiques, performed furniture restoration, chair caning, crocheting, and needlepoint. She liked to play Trivia and her favorite TV show was Jeopardy, which she watched each day for many decades until her passing.

In addition to working as a sales associate, she also worked as a Census Taker, Voting Poll Worker and a Real Estate Agent. She loved being a Real Estate Agent, as it gave her an opportunity to talk about the history of the area, which she cherished.

Gladys will be remembered for her love and selfless protection of her children, her passion, work ethic, drive, determination, strong spirit, intelligence and her incredible memory.

Gladys’s favorite prayers were “The Memorare” and the “Our Father” and Praying the Rosary. Additionally, enduring silent personal pain for decades, not of her making, and to protect her children, she lived her life by the prayer:

God Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change;

Courage to Change The Things I Can;

And The Wisdom To Know The Difference.

By Reinhold Niebuhr

Gladys is survived by her husband, Raymond S. Griesenauer and her siblings Darleen Pund, Roger Sommer and Jacqueline Schappe.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Tonja Flannery (Jim), Terrill Griesenauer, Douglas Griesenauer (Christina), Tracey Mertz (Daniel) and Barton Griesenauer (Angela). She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and one great grandson.

As a final act of selflessness, Gladys has donated her body for use in scientific and health research at Saint Louis University. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Parish Chapel, 7701 Highway N, Dardenne Prairie, MO on Thursday, December 21st, 2017 at 2:00 PM. Monsignor Ted Wojcicki will be the Celebrant. A Celebration of Life Reception and Dinner will follow immediately afterward in the new Immaculate Conception Parish Hall.

All family and friends are welcome to attend for prayer, reminiscing, and sharing stories of their gratitude and thankfulness for Gladys in their life.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Conception Parish, St. Louis Down Syndrome Association, American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association or The Life Teen Program – Assumption BVM Parish O’Fallon, MO.