Kathleen Griesemer

(From Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home)

Kathleen Antonia Poirot Griesemer died December 2, 2024. Born July 20, 1938, in Carthage, Missouri, the youngest child of Mary Frances Brady and Eugene Marcel Poirot, Kathleen grew up in rural Lawrence County, Missouri where she played on the prairie and ice skated on the ponds. She attended the one room Coon Creek School (skipping the third grade since there were no other children her age). 

Her mother exposed her to lifelong passions: literature, music, and painting. A teenage Kathleen won a national 4-H award for a dress and jacket she designed, sewed and modeled at a Chicago Life Magazine show. Later she used this skill to make some of her and her children’s clothing. She graduated from Miller High School in 1955 as Valedictorian and Homecoming Queen.

 

Kathleen attended Mount Saint Scholastica (now Benedictine College) before transferring to Saint Louis University (SLU). Her future sister-in-law arranged for her to meet John Nicholas Griesemer while attending SLU. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English in January 1959. She and John married on February 7, 1959, and moved to Springfield where she lived the rest of her life. John and Kathleen welcomed five children, all of whom survive: Margaret Mary Duncan (David), Julia Elizabeth (Jeffrey Bentley) all of Springfield, Joseph Eugene of Miami, Florida, John Francis (Brooke) of Springfield, and Stephen Marcel (Eleni) of Chicago, Illinois. Kathleen and John enjoyed entertaining at their farm, traveling and supporting one another in their joint commitment to their church, community and careers.

Kathleen worked on the Greene County Library Bookmobile and taught 6th grade at Immaculate Conception School (IC) before retiring to raise their children. She served as den mother for her son’s Cub Scout troop, was IC Home and School President, and led the Saint Agnes School Great Books program, among many other volunteer activities at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

She also was a long time member of The Daughters of Saint Francis de Sales, a society of lay Catholic women. Besides, the spiritual benefits, the Society allowed her to indulge in her lifelong love of France and all things French. She held several positions of leadership in the Daughters which allowed her to travel to Paris for biannual meetings. She translated several documents for this group from French into English and made many friends all over the world including India where Kathleen assisted with the establishment of a home and school for girls.

John tragically predeceased her in 1993; soon after she joined his company, Springfield Underground (Erlen Group), as chair of the Board of Directors serving until 2008.

In 1994, she obtained a Doctorate of Psychology from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology and practiced as a licensed therapist assisting patients experiencing chronic pain.

In 2004, she married James C “Jim” Hutchison of Springfield who survives. Kathleen and Jim enjoyed welcoming family and friends into their homes and exploring the Colorado mountains.

Having taken up quilting she completed a quilt for each of her grandchildren with the assistance of her niece, Mary Poirot. Several grandchildren curled up with their quilts upon learning of their grandmother’s passing.

Kathleen loved to cook and entertain, and her grandchildren remember hiking, baking Santa bread, sewing, and skiing with “Grandma” or “Minga”. She loved tennis and instilled a love of the game in her children and grandchildren. She loved flowers and gardening, enjoyed painting with watercolor, playing flute and piano, and photographing wildflowers. Kathleen was also a long-time member of Southwest Missouri Museum Associates Amateur d ’Art art group.

Many charitable and educational organizations benefited from Kathleen’s generosity. These include the Community Foundation of the Ozarks where she served as board president, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield Little Theatre, Juanita K Hammons Hall, Springfield Regional Opera, St. Louis University and the Springfield Symphony. Kathleen served as President of the Child Advocacy Center of the Ozarks receiving the organization’s John Ferguson award in 2016. She was a longtime supporter of Springfield Catholic Schools, helping create the Emerald Evening fundraiser and serving on their Development and School Boards for many years. As a Doctor of Psychology, Kathleen assisted the Diocese of Springfield Cape-Girardeau with establishing the Diocesan Child and Youth Protection Office. She supported numerous other worthy causes, most recently, the renovation of Saint John’s Chapel at Mercy Hospital, Springfield.

Kathleen was predeceased by her brother, Severin Poirot, and sister, Joan Krautmann.

Kathleen is also survived by her grandchildren: Kathleen Mae “Katie”, Nicholas Connor, and Madeline Elizabeth Duncan; John Sumner, Timothy Radford, and Eleanor Poirot Bentley; Claire Elizabeth, John Sanders ”Jack”, and Lila Marie Griesemer; John Constantine ”Gus”, and Theodore Nicholas ”Teddy” Griesemer; her sister, Julia Thoma, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, Jim’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and many friends.

 

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the many caregivers and extended family who provided Kathleen with love and support during her Illness.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, December 27, 2024, 10 am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2818 E Bennett Street, Springfield, Missouri.

Visitation will be held Thursday, December 26th 4-6 pm with Rosary following at 6pm at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E Seminole Street, Springfield, Missouri.

Given her love of flowers, Kathleen often joked that “in lieu of donations, please send flowers.” But seriously, memorial donations may be made to The Child Advocacy Center or Springfield Catholic Schools.