Mary Ann Gehrs, 82, Festus
Mary Ann Gehrs, 82, of Festus died Oct. 11, 2021, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Center in Crystal City. Mrs. Gehrs was a lifelong resident of Jefferson County and attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Kimmswick when it was a two-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Notre Dame High School and Webster College (now Webster University) with a degree in English literature. She grew up on a farm and was active in 4H as a teen and as an adult leader. She worked as a postal clerk at the Festus Post Office for many years. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crystal City where she served on the Parish Council, and she was a past president of the Legion of Mary organization. She was an avid reader, and she enjoyed riding horses and collecting books and farm-related antiques and cow-themed items. She also loved spending time with family and friends. Born Oct. 12, 1939, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Mary (Zeni) and Peter J. Bach III.
She was preceded in death by her husband: James J. Gehrs Sr.
She is survived by a daughter: Dr. Karen (Dr. A. Tim Johnson) Gehrs of Coralville, Iowa; two sons: James Joseph Gehrs Jr. of St. Charles and Matthew (Stephanie) Gehrs of Festus; a brother: Jon (Debbie) Bach of St. Mary; a sister: Dr. Geralyn (Dr. Gordon) Grieshaber of Mineral Point, Wis.; in-laws: Jacquelyn Gehrs and John Williams of Oakville and William (the late Ginny) Gehrs of Middleton, Ohio, and Joseph Herrell of Imperial; a brother-in-law: Joseph of Imperial Herrell; two grandsons: Dean Matthew Gehrs and Wyatt James Gehrs of Festus; two step-grandsons: Brodie (Mycailah) Johnson of Tiffin, Iowa, and Christian (Jamie) Johnson of Adel, Iowa; and many other family members and friends.
She also was preceded in death by two sisters: Bernadine (the late Thomas) Fassler and Kathryn Herrell; an infant brother: Joseph Michael Bach; in-laws: Betty and John Edinger, Robert and Helen Gehrs, Norma and Lee Warren, Rosemary and Harry Pelot, and Joan and William Bins.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral Mass at noon Monday (Oct. 18) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 6020 Old Antonia Road, in Imperial, officiated by Father Daniel Shaughnessy. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Helping Hands and Horses at helpinghandsandhorses.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.