Kaethe Sears
Jerseyville |
Kaethe Emma "Katie" Sears, passed away at 1:15 p.m., on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
She was born December 29, 1925 in Stahnsdorf, Germany to Max Albert & Minna Ida Marie (Kollman) Schmidt. Growing up and attending schools in Berlin, Katie became fluent in English.
She worked as an interpreter, meeting her future husband, Donald Sears, who was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force. Katie married Don on November 8, 1947 in Berlin, Germany and subsequently returned with him after his tour of duty was completed to begin their life together in the United States in 1948. They first resided in Kane, then moved to Jerseyville where Don and she began what was to become Sears Wholesale. She assisted him with the business and together they enjoyed many years of retirement before his death on November 22, 2005.
On March 21, 1951, Katie became a Naturalized United States Citizen of which she was most proud.
She is survived by a daughter & son in law, Teresa & Bill Tometich of Jefferson City, Mo., a son & daughter in law, Ron & Cathie Sears of Jerseyville; a grandson, and his wife, Nick & Tashi Sears of Woodstock, New York; two step granddaughters, Jennifer Odum of Peoria and Molly Murphy of Jefferson City, Mo.; a sister in law, Dorothy Stringer of Jerseyville, and a brother in law & sister in law, Ralph "Tag" Sears of Jerseyville; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, her older brother, Karl Heinz Schmidt who was killed in World War II; a sister in law, Betty Allen; and a brother in law, Charlie Sears.
Per her wishes, her body has been donated to the Washington University School of Medicine.
At her request there will be no services.
Memorials may be given to the Jersey County Veterans Assistance Commission, 201 W. Pearl Street, Jerseyville, Il. 62052.
Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville is in charge of the arrangements.
Crawford Funeral Home
