Obituaries

Esther Mary Bode

Photo of Esther Mary Bode
Esther Mary Bode, 89, of Jefferson City, died Thursday, April 14, 2011, at Capital Region Medical Center. She was born on December 29, 1921, in Westphalia, Mo., the daughter of the late William L. and Elizabeth J. Meyerpeter Scheppers. She was united in marriage on November 28, 1940, in Westphalia, to Fred Frank Bode who survives. Mrs. Bode was an owner, office manager, and creative consultant for Fred F. Bode Floor Covering from 1947 to 1981 at which time she retired. She was a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic Grade School, Westphalia, and Westphalia High School. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; St. Ann's Sodality; Legion of Mary; and participated in numerous church activities. She served as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts for several years, and was a volunteer teacher's aide at Immaculate Conception School. An active member of Cenacle Retreat League in St. Louis, she was a member of the Knights of Columbus Women's Auxiliary, Dan C. Coppin General Assembly. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit #544 for over fifty years and a member of the Westphalia Historical Society. She was a member of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, Inc., and the Mid-Missouri Old Car Club. Her hobbies included sewing and gardening. One of Esther's greatest accomplishments was her children and later becoming a grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. The times spent with her family was one of her greatest joys. Survivors include two sons, Stephen (Kay) Bode, St. Martins, Mo., and Gerald (Laura) Bode, Rockton, Ill.; two daughters, Elaine (Del) Bode-Oliver, Jefferson City, and Sharon Messimer, The Woodlands, Texas; one daughter-in-law, Mary Bode, Jefferson City; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth "Libby" (Jerry) Block, Melodie (James) Tharp, Jaala (James) Spratt, Bria (Jeff) Arnel, Jennifer Bode, Heather Bode, and Alexandra Messimer; ten great-grandchildren, Devin (Nicole) Block, Amber Block, Madison Block, Esther Tharp, Cora Tharp, Timothy Tharp, Annie Spratt, Jayme Spratt, Alexa Spratt, and Kailey Spratt; two great-great-grandchildren, Alexus Stark and Eli Routon; and two sisters, Martha Krone, Westphalia, Mo., and Cecelia Player, Quincy, Ill. She was preceded in death by one son, James Bode and one sister, Sarah Scheppers. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, April 18th, 2011, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. David D. Cox officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. Sunday, April 17th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Masses; Helias Foundation, P.O. Box 694, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0694; or Vogelweid Learning Center, 314 W. High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.

Published April 17, 2011