Eula Mae Stierholz (nee Gerdes), of O'Fallon, MO, passed away Thursday, March 8, 2018, at the age of 83.
In 1934, Eula Mae Gerdes was born at home on a farm in Oakford, Illinois. Her parents were school teachers and farmers. She left the farm to attend Illinois College where she met and married Hugo Stierholz. With Hugo, she saw the world. Together they lived in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Iowa City, Des Moines, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where they raised six children.
Eula taught math at Hanley Jr. High in University City. She then earned her master's degree in math from Saint Louis University and was a professor at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley and chair of the Math Department. She loved math and teaching, and leaves a legacy of children and grandchildren who enjoy math and learning.
Always growing and changing, generous and hospitable, Eula embraced the extraordinary variety of people, values and lifestyles that her children and grandchildren brought to her. Eula remained fundamentally young throughout her long life; she traveled widely (going all over the world) and embraced #technology (first to have the new iPhone, always). She loved having the activity of kids and grandkids all around her. We will miss her every day.
Preceded in death by Hugo, she leaves her sister, Josephine Gerdes Cannon, and six children: Deborah Heinrich (Tim; children Katherine, Laura, Kristin, and Michael); Gretchen Stierholz (daughter Annaliese); Hugo Frederick Stierholz (son Hugo Paul); Katrina Stierholz (Mark Banaszak; children Theodor and Emil); Kristina Stierholz (Albert Webster; children Karl, Lillian Mae, and Eric); and Mary Stierholz (Marty Bradford; children Peter, Max, Greta, and Hans).
Memorials, Donors’ choice.