Gertrude "Trudy" Rose (Ellerbrock) Demien

Gertrude "Trudy" Rose (Ellerbrock) Demien passed away at her home on October 16, 2021 at the age of 95. She was born on a farm outside Ursa, Illinois, Gertrude—as she was always called by her Illinois relatives—was a tomboy from the start. But that spunk gave her the drive to attend Elmhurst College in the Chicago area and then nursing school in St. Louis where she earned her Registered Nursing degree from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. Over the next decade she worked in a variety of hospitals in the St. Louis, St. Charles and Troy, MO area.

During that time she met and married Ralph Demien—a man whose outgoing personality changed her into an outgoing person herself. Together they had four children—Nancy (Andy)Bryant, Portland, OR; David (Debi) Demien and Russ (Dana) Demien, Wentzville, MO; and Mark Demien (deceased). She left behind 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who she loved dearly and kept well supplied with chocolate chip cookies.

An independent woman ahead of her time in many ways and always a leader, she was one of the first registered nurses in the Wentzville community and by then was known as Trudy. Through the years she helped set up the drive to get Wentzville area residents vaccinated for polio. She organized and worked Red Cross Blood Mobile drives, gave tuberculosis screening tests to public and private school children, taught first aid courses, and worked to help bring the first senior housing to Wentzville. She also worked when needed in the offices of Wentzville Construction Company and later Demien Construction Company as a secretary and bookkeeper.

Her faith and church—Immanuel Lutheran Church--were central to her life. Through the years she held a variety of leadership positions in the Voters’ Assembly, Women in Mission (formerly Ladies Aid) and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She was also active in the church elementary school, including volunteering as school nurse.

Trudy was known for her sense of humor, love of snow, basketball, Cardinal baseball, Mizzou football, and playing cards, and for her generous spirit and great food—particularly chocolate chip cookies and caramel rolls.

What she leaves behind is woven into the lives of so many—in her family, her church, and her community.

Memorials may be made payable to:  Immanuel Lutheran Church Building Fund or American Parkinson Disease Association in care of Pitman Funeral Home, P. O. Box 248, Wentzville, MO  63385

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