Gertrude Josephine Bode Kaemmerlen

Gertrude Josephine Bode Kaemmerlen, 91, of Jefferson City, died Friday, December 26, 2014, at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital after a short illness. She was born February 19, 1923, in Taos, the daughter of the late Stephen and Johanna (Koetting) Bode. She was united in marriage on August 29, 1964, in Normandy, to Frank Bernard Kaemmerlen who preceded her in death on July 28, 2000. Gertrude worked for the Purple Shoppe as a secretary after graduation from high school. She spent two years in California with her younger sister selling cosmetics for Cover Girl. Most of her working years were with McDonnell Douglas Aviation as a clerk and secretary in St. Louis. She and Frank lived in St. Louis until Frank's retirement from Kaemmerlen Electric. They moved to Jefferson City to be close to Gertrude's family, a blessing over the years for all concerned. She stayed very close to all her nieces and nephews. She was active in her church at Immaculate Conception Parish where she belonged to the St. Ann's Sodality, the Legion of Mary, the Daughters of Isabella, and the Prayer Line Program. She was a strong supporter and follower of the Eternal Word Television Network. She and Frank enjoyed fishing trips, often to Frank's home state of Texas. She loved her weekly pinochle sessions, the "Red Hatters," and her little dog, Trixie. She was a wonderful example of a simple, saintly life and she will be missed by many friends and family members. Gertrude is survived by three siblings, Mildred Landwehr, Jefferson City; Helen Blume, Jefferson City; Alex Bode, New Bloomfield; one brother-in-law, Larry Smith, Boonville; and many fond nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sisters and their spouses, Catherine and Louis Graessle, Marie and Francis Stokes, Dorothy Smith; three brothers and their spouses, Cletus and Margaret Ann Bode, Edwin and Helen Bode, and Fred and Esther Bode; and three in-laws, Frank Landwehr, Herbert Blume, and Dorothy Bode. Visitation will be 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2014, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Louis M. Nelen officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Eternal Word Television Network, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL, 35210; or to the Vitae Caring Foundation, 1731 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, Mo 65109. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.