Obituary: Patricia Elise Essen Engaged Public With Education, Selfless Service

Essen, Patricia Elise (nee Wolf), passed away, Friday, July 29, 2011 to enter eternity with Jesus, sister Harriet Davey, and parents Minnie and Harry E. Wolf. Pat is survived by her loving and devoted husband of nearly 64 years, Donald F. Essen, whom she married on September 27, 1947. Pat also leaves behind daughter Sue Essen and son-in-law Anthony Kenworthy, daughters Maud Essen, Joanie Essen, and Mary Detrich, grandsons Nick Detrich and Ed Detrich, nieces Judith Hornbeck, Pat Keeley, and Sally Ling, and many dear friends.

Pat's long career as a civic leader included volunteer services for--St. John's Lutheran Church and school, C.E.A. President, Youth Group Leader, Sunday School teacher, team-teaching fourth grade with Don for five years and Choir member; Lafayette High School, worked to get the bond issue approved for Lafayette High School; Webster Groves Red Cross Board, traveled to the schools in the Rockwood School District, collecting tray favors for the nursing homes; United Way, with Virginia Heppler organized the area west of Lindbergh for collecting to help the community at large; St. Louis County Cable Television Public Educational Commission, served on the board for eight years, working to connect county schools for educational purposes and further higher education at the college level; Saint Louis Symphony Volunteer Association, served over 30 years as Vice President of Musical Activities, Fund Raising and the Annual Support Campaign and various committees; co-chaired Gypsy Caravan and chaired the Summer Music Camps at the Community Music School, assisted with the Educational Concerts - our audiences of the future - and Fun with Music - our concert for children with special needs (incidentally chairing the first one), a member of the Green Room Society; As a member of the West County community for over 60 years, was a bit of a pioneer, thus being a charter and founding member of the Tuesday Contemporary Club of the GFWC and the Ballwin Rotaryanns, both organized in 1952, in 1994 helped found The German American Heritage Society; Ballwin Days Committee, served over 25 years - Children's Art, Volksmarch and, with other members of the Kehrs Mill View Garden Club, Beautification Committee - ascertaining the most well kept property in the four wards; Washington University, an active fund raiser and member of the Eliot Society.

Services: Funeral service at St. John's Lutheran Church, 15800 Manchester Rd., Ellisville, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Twilight interment at 8 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Ellisville. If desired, contributions may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Louis Symphony or Gideon's International. Visitation at the SCHRADER Funeral Home, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin, Monday 3-8 p.m. and at the church, Tuesday 5:30 p.m. until time of service. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.