Genevieve Marie Juergensmeyer

Genevieve Marie (Reinkemeyer) Juergensmeyer, 91, of Koeltztown, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 2, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on May 24, 1931, in Argyle, Missouri, to Lawrence and Anna (Steinman) Reinkemeyer. She grew up on the family farm on the outskirts of Argyle, the eldest daughter of 10 children. She attended Renneke Country School and assisted with caring for the children of several families in the area in her teenage years.

Genevieve met Felix in 1951 at a dance in Argyle, and they were engaged in 1952, but they waited to marry until Felix had returned from the Korean War. During this time, she moved to Jefferson City with friends and worked at the Brown Shoe Factory.

On May 8, 1954, at 8 am, Genevieve and Felix were united in marriage at St. Aloyisius Church followed by a reception on Saturday afternoon and a dance on Sunday afternoon. The newlyweds moved into a house, which they built, on the Juergensmeyer Farm - raising dairy and beef cattle among other livestock and crops. To this union, 12 children were born and raised in a modest home, filled with love. As the family grew, she welcomed every grandchild and great grandchild with open arms and grandma hugs. She enjoyed every minute she could hold a baby in her arms.

 Genevieve was a farmer and farm wife, loving mother, chef, bookkeeper, seamstress, teacher, chaperone and a humble and devout Catholic. All 12 children attended Holy Family School through eighth grade. In her early 50s, she and some parish ladies began a quilting circle which she attended weekly, hand-quilting hundreds of quilts for parishes and people all over the country for nearly 40 years.

She and Felix were dedicated to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8045 in Argyle, where they were hospitality managers, cooks, servers and chaperones. Genevieve served on the Ladies Auxiliary, holding the president position for several years.

Some of their fondest memories were made during special times of year when they celebrated with family and friends during deer season gatherings, summer fish frys and winter card-playing parties.

Genevieve will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her as a hard-working, warm, sweet and genuine woman dedicated to her family, friends and community. She mastered many farm, garden and kitchen chores but was widely known for her amazing homemade bread, pies, cookies and gallons upon gallons of hand-picked fruit, which she often made into jams and jellies for her family and friends. She loved gardening and gathering fruit from nature’s bounty and never gave up picking gooseberries and blackberries for her pies and jams. One of her savory specialties was pan-fried chicken which was a frequently-requested family favorite.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years in 2020, two sisters, Georgena Huhman and Geraldine Lock, one brother, Jerome Reinkemeyer, two baby brothers Wilfred and Joseph Reinkemeyer, three brothers-in-law Leonard Buschjost, Norbert Juergensmeyer, Robert Kellenberger and four sisters-in-law Margaret Reinkemeyer, Marcella Reinkemeyer, Florence Kellenberger, and Sister M. Edith Juergensmeyer, SSND.

 She is survived by six siblings, five sisters: Julie Buschjost, Mary Meinhardt, Dedie Otke (Dick), Rose Dulle (Ralph), and Liz Grosso (Tony), one brother, Marvin Reinkemeyer, two brothers-in-law, Donald Huhman and Gary Lock, and one sister-in-law, Dorothy Juergensmeyer, numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her children, Richard Juergensmeyer (Diane) of St. Elizabeth, Susan Wieberg (Ralph) of Koeltztown, Janet Kliethermes (Kenny) of Koeltztown, Joyce Neuner (Patrick) of Rich Fountain, Mary (Liz) Rackers (Don) of Taos, Laura Luebbert (Daniel) of Holts Summit, John Juergensmeyer (Janel) of Koeltztown, Sandra Hentges (Chris) of Wardsville, Pam Barnes (Jon) of Perry, Scott Juergensmeyer (Amy) of Taos, Kim Findlay (Dave) of Columbia, and Aaron Juergensmeyer of Linn. She is also survived by 31 grandchildren, Brandon Juergensmeyer, Jessica Stultz, Abby Carwile, Jenny Griffin, Michael Harding, Kaitlin Patterson, Alex Wieberg, Adam Kliethermes, Jordan Kliethermes, Emma Kliethermes, Amanda Renshaw, Anna Neuner, Evan Neuner, Lacy Green, Logan Rackers, Bret Russell, Courtney Hardin, Ian Luebbert, Braden, Greyson and Kaylee Juergensmeyer, Lanie, Jack and Sam Hentges, Thomas and Samantha Barnes, Ali, Molly and Libby Juergensmeyer, and Darcy and Tess Findlay;  34 great-grandchildren and one expected in July.

Services will be held at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Koeltztown.  Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday, April 4 from 4-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 3:15 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5 with burial in the parish cemetery.  Fr. Basil Tigga and Fr. James Finder will concelebrate the Mass.

Memorials may be made to Osage County Community Living or the St. Boniface Endowment Fund. Arrangements are with Trimble Funeral Home in Westphalia. 

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Westphalia.      trimblefunerals.com