Catherine E. Baumgartner, 96, of St. Louis, Mo. passed away on Oct 14, 2019. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Oct 28, 2019 at Assumption Catholic Church, 4725 Mattis Rd, St. Louis, Mo. 63128.

Catherine was born on June 13, 1923 in Granite City, Ill. Her family moved to St. Louis during her childhood. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Soulard neighborhood because her parents were immigrants from Croatia and St. Joe’s held mass in Croation. She married the love of her life James E Baumgartner in 1948. They were a long time parishioners at St. Francis de Sales Church where their children attended grade school. Later she moved with her husband to South County and attended St. Matthias Catholic Church. Rarely did they miss mass.

“Katy”, as her friends called her, was a dancer throughout her life. She loved polka music. Even into her nineties she would start dancing at the sound of the music. Most of her fame still lingers from many wedding receptions.

“Kay” was wife, mom, grandmother and great grandmother. Her greatest love was her family. She was a housewife and mom in the best sense of the words. Her focus was always on what was best for her family.

She was an avid bingo player most of her life and could play multiple cards at once. She loved to play solitaire, poker, ‘kings in the corner’ and many other card games. You had to really watch her at poker! Her love for games was passed on to her heirs. Katy was always very active and never sat still.

At the nursing home they called her the “Road Runner”. They made her stay in a wheelchair after falling several times. She looked like Fred Flintstone barreling down the highway as her feet propelled her around the halls of the Mary Queen and Mother Center. She was beset with dementia in the last months. Her family knew the last thing she would forget were her boys’ names (Jimmy, Danny, Joey and Bobby). When Joe last saw her, she awoke from a deep sleep and immediately, correctly named each of us in the room.

Catherine Baumgartner is survived by her sister Evelyn Loubeck; her four sons, James (his wife, Dorothy), Daniel (his wife, Karen), Joseph (his wife, Patricia) and Robert (his wife, Karen); her grandchildren Larry Baumgartner, Racel Lozano (her husband, Gabe), Matthew Baumgartner (his wife, Caroline), Brittany Ehrke (her husband, John), James Baumgartner, Megan Frazier (her husband, Ben), Stephen Baumgartner; her great grandchildren Justin, Dakota, Andrea, Olivia, Madison. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband James, her brother Steve Papes, her sister Dorothy Vennemann, her granddaughter Angie Hornecker, and her grandson Ernie Baumgartner.

The family would like to express their gratitude towards Mary, Queen and Mother Center and Vitas Hospice for their help and sensitivity in this difficult time.

Instead of floral remembrances, the family suggests that donations can be made to:

• Mary Queen and Mother,7601 Watson Rd, St. Louis, Mo. 63119
  • https://cardinalritterseniorservices.org/how-to-help/
• St Joseph’s Catholic church, 2112 S 12th St., St. Louis, Mo 63104 to honor Catherine’s memory
  • http://www.stjosephcroatiancatholicchurch.com/about/
• Vitas Hospice
  • https://vitascommunityconnection.org/

Pictures and memories can be shared at: Facebook event’ https://www.facebook.com/events/443294419641100/