Gerry Guenther

Geraldine A. "Gerry" Guenther, 83, of Jackson passed away Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Nov. 5, 1930, in Granite City, Illinois, to William and Violet Krug Fricke. She and Charles "Chuck" Guenther were married Jan. 19, 1952, in Granite City.

Gerry was a 1952 graduate of St. John's School of Nursing in Springfield, Illinois.

She worked 10 years in nursing. Gerry was a devoted wife, mom and grandma, and has always enjoyed making herself available for the needs of her entire family. They are so thankful that she selflessly gave to help shoulder the needs and concerns of their respective families.

Gerry also gardened, canned, sewed and crocheted. She particularly enjoyed traveling and camping, and in earlier years, she and Chuck were previously active in several area square dance clubs. She was a current member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, and a former member of Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville, Illinois, where she was active in the ladies ministries of the church and the parents activities of the school.

Loving survivors include her husband of 62 years, Chuck of Jackson; five children, Deborah Guenther and Gregory (Nancy) Guenther of Belleville, Christine (Gary) Petzoldt and Janet (Timothy) Davis of Jackson and Mary Shultz and husband J.R. Pyles of Qulin, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Michael Guenther and wife Rachel Daugherty of Villa Park, Illinois, Kara (Joseph) Monfre of Lebanon, Illinois, Cheryl (Jonathan) Beasley of Ames, Iowa, Sarah Trotter of Oak Ridge, Daniel Shultz of Centennial, Colorado, Hannah Petzoldt, Brian Shultz, Adam and Eric Davis, all of Jackson; and nine great-grandchildren, Cynthia, Dalton, Austin, Taylor, Lani, Dylan, Corbin, Abigail and Alexis.

Also surviving is a sister, Ann (Ray) Steckenrider of Raleigh, North Carolina; a brother-in-law, Marion R. Wheeler of Pinckneyville, Illinois; her husband's siblings, Delorus (Fred) Cavins and Raymond (Lucille) Guenther of Granite City, John (Glenda) Guenther of De Soto, Missouri, and Howard Guenther of Wood River, Illinois; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Brandy Trotter Jacobs; a sister, Wanda Wheeler; and her parents.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. A committal service will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Mueller Hill Cemetery (Highway 13) near Pinckneyville, with the Rev. David Kollmeyer officiating.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church or School.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.