Kathleen Marie McFarland Wirtz, passed away on May 26, 2024, after a valiant fight against ovarian cancer, in St. Peters, Missouri, at the age of 75. She was born on March 26, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Margaret Pinson McFarland and Jasper Forrest McFarland. 

Kathleen was a fun-loving person with a dazzling smile and a quick wit which drew people to her, and she was a fiercely loyal and loving friend. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to neighbors, friends and family. 

Kathleen and her husband Jerry purchased a “painted lady” Victorian home in Shrewsbury early in their marriage which they spent many years lovingly restoring. She loved collecting and decorating the house with beautiful antiques. 

She and Jerry loved entertaining and together they hosted many fun parties in their Shrewsbury home, most notably the annual New Years party that they continued to host after they moved to their home in St. Charles. Friends and family looked forward to the event every year. 

Among her favorite things to collect were antique hats and purses and this impressive collection will be generously donated, per her wishes, to not-for-profit theater companies. She loved the theater and loved to sing and was a talented soprano. As a teenager, she participated in many of the operetta productions at St. Mark’s high school in St. Louis. Her passion for singing continued into her adulthood and she was a member of several choruses in the St. Louis and St. Charles areas. Among her accomplishments as a singer, she performed with the Bel Canto Chorus at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

She and her husband Jerry volunteered as ushers for many years at the Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis, where they established many long-lasting friendships. 

Kathleen was a supporter of the visual arts and also volunteered for the Riverfront Paint Out in St. Charles. 

Family was very important to Kathleen. She loved and supported her brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews, grandnieces and great grand niece. They all loved her in return. She will be sorely missed by all.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Wirtz, and her sister, Lorraine McFarland Movitz and brother-in-law, Norman Movitz. Kathleen was preceded in death by her mother (Margaret), father (Jasper), brothers (Dennis, Terrence and Forrest), and her sister (Margaret). 

As per Kathleen’s wishes there will be no services, but instead a gathering of her family and friends to celebrate her life, and to reminisce about the fun times. The date and location will be announced when plans are completed. 

Kathleen’s sister Marge also lost her fight against ovarian cancer and passed away on January 28, 2024. Kathleen asked that her family suggest contributions in her memory be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. 

To donate online go to www.ocrahope.org and click the donate tab, then follow the steps. 

To donate by mail, please send checks to:

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

P.O. Box 32141

New York, NY 10087-2141 

OCRA will send a card through the postal service with an acknowledgement of your donation.

The address to enter online or to include with your check for the card is:

Jerry Wirtz

 3808 Pine Forest Lane

St. Charles, MO 63304