Joan (Blumenthal) Grossmann

Grossmann, Joan F. -- entered into peaceful rest at age 92 on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 with family by her bedside.

Beloved wife of the late Raymond R. Grossmann; dear daughter of the late Robert and Frances Blumenthal; loving mother of Carol (Craig) Felzien, Jeanine (Patrick) Schierbecker, Robert (Donna) Grossmann and Anne (Brandon Blakey) Grossmann; adoring grandmother of Eric (Melissa) and Sean (Abi); Jake, Tyler, and Zach; and Jesse, Cary, Alex (Caitlin), Slater (Sydney), and Mira; adoring great-grandmother of Hattie, Wade, Nelly, and Ella; loving sister of Claire (Bob) Wood; adoring aunt of Martha Garcia, Michael, Peter (Lioness), and John (Lisa) Ayres; Marcia (Dennis) Pozzo; Amy (Brian) Kyhos and Todd (Sarah) Wood. Dear daughter-in-law of the late Edward (Mary) Grossmann, sister-in-law of the late Audrey (Joe) Ayres and Edward (Norene) Grossmann; aunt of late nephews Edward (survived by Karen) Grossmann and Glenn Grossmann; grandmother of late grandson Kyle Grossmann, and friend of the late Virginia Storer. Joan was a loving and caring cousin, aunt, friend, and colleague to many, and she was particularly fond of being known as Grandma Joan to all.

Services: Visitation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Dardenne Presbyterian Church (7400 Highway N) followed by a celebration of life at 11 a.m. 

Interment at Dardenne Presbyterian cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Joan Blumenthal Grossmann & Raymond R. Grossmann Scholarship in Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, MSC1202-414-3100, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105 (877-215-2727 or www.giving.wustl.edu/how-to-give/ ) the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments, 1750 South Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63117 (314-776-1300 or http://www.dgckids.org ; or Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 Highway N, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368 (636-561-4347 or www.dpc4u.org ).

The Grossmann Family is being served by Pitman Funeral Home; family and friends may visit the guest book at www.pitmanfuneralhome.com . 

Joan Frances Blumenthal—affectionately known as the Flower of Baden—was born on July 16, 1932, in St. Louis, MO, to Robert E. and Frances “Butzie” Blumenthal, and was a proud graduate of Baden Elementary School, Beaumont High School (where she ranked first in her graduating class), and Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in mathematics in 1954 and was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority, where she served as chapter president.

Joan loved everything about the arts, including singing, dancing, the theater, and attending jazz concerts with Ray in their early dating years. Joan and Ray were married at St. Stephen UCC in Baden on June 4, 1954. It was a whirlwind, as Joan finished finals on Wednesday and went straight to church for the wedding rehearsal. She and Ray got their marriage license on Thursday and tied the knot on Friday, after which the newlyweds honeymooned at Lake of the Ozarks.

Joan was a sophomore in college, and her sister, Claire, was only six when their mother died of breast cancer in 1951. Joan had made the decision to attend college in St. Louis so she could be of help to her father, who traveled extensively for a living. Several years after Joan and Ray married, Claire moved in with them so she could attend school in Jennings, and Claire became both an aunt and “big sister” in residence to their children during her high school and college years.

Joan taught second grade in the University City School District and kindergarten in the Normandy School District until she and Ray decided to start their family in 1957, residing in Jennings, MO until the spring of 1981.

Beyond her own children, Joan continued to teach, plant seeds, and shape the minds of young people through church activities at St. Stephen UCC, as president of the PTA and Band Boosters in the Jennings School District, and as a longtime Camp Fire Girls leader.

Joan wouldn’t hear of moving out of their Jennings community until she was sure a 1980 school bond issue had successfully passed. When Joan and Ray finally sold their home and moved to Lake Saint Louis in 1981, Joan continued her PTA and Band Boosters involvement in the Wentzville School District. As a devoted mother, she embraced her role wholeheartedly.

Joan’s faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was actively engaged in her church communities over the years – St. Stephen UCC, Faith UCC, and Dardenne Presbyterian Church – where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. She was also involved in Operation Christmas Child.

Joan had a beautiful soprano voice and often sang as a soloist at weddings in her younger years. She had upwards of 80 years singing in various church choirs and just retired from the Chancel Choir at Dardenne Presbyterian this past spring.

In 1981, Joan was chosen for an honor that she considered one of her finest. She was elected to serve as moderator for the United Church of Christ (UCC) at the state level. This commitment involved three years of meeting and leading the UCC Church in Missouri. In an article written about Joan’s life, she said, “I traveled back and forth on Interstate 70, and by the end of my term, knew almost every pastor in Missouri by his or her first name.”

Joan was a visionary and a natural-born leader. When the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments moved, Joan wasn’t just involved in the building renovation effort, she served the organization in the capacity of general contractor. Her volunteer work at the Center started during college at the time of the organization’s founding and included terms on the board of directors, where she also served as president and chairperson of the annual fundraising event—The Shining Light Tree Lot.

In addition to her commitment to family and faith, Joan relished her time in the great outdoors. She and Ray enjoyed boating and were enthusiastic members of the Lake Saint Louis Sailing Club, and Joan ultimately earned Emeritus status as a longtime member of the Jardin du Lac Garden Club.

Joan loved everything about hospitality and entertaining, whether it was hosting their Bridge Club friends from college, homecoming float “pomping” sessions in the family garage, pool parties in the backyard or grade-school luaus at their home in Jennings. Later, living in Lake Saint Louis gave Joan and Ray ample opportunity to host gatherings, and Joan always had extra place settings at the ready, ensuring no one was left alone during holidays, especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Joan was also somewhat notorious for her unique selection of games and activities at Grossmann Contracting Company’s annual Christmas event. Each year they would put on a Christmas party for the 50 or more employees and their spouses. They’d have dinner at a nice restaurant, then Joan would orchestrate games like trivia, Pass the Trash or Pictograms.

Throughout their life together, Joan and Ray loved to travel, including family vacations with friends at Table Rock Lake, Caribbean sailboat trips with neighbors, and international travels. Joan continued to travel the US with family and friends following Ray’s death, including a very special two-week family vacation over Christmas and New Years to Anna Maria Island, FL.

When Joan lost her beloved Ray to cancer in 2011, she continued her volunteerism focus at Dardenne Presbyterian serving on the finance committee for more than two decades, as well as being intrinsically involved in supporting missionaries around the globe.

During the more than 10 years she lived at the Garden Villas of O’Fallon, Joan enjoyed coding and organizing the library and coordinating special events, including community choir concerts, bowling parties, and prayer group meetings. She never lost her love for and interest in the arts, music, and dance and continued to own a pair of tap shoes, which she donned just a year ago to tap dance on the Fox Theater stage at a private event. No matter where she lived, Joan loved tending her garden and will always be remembered for her loving, caring spirit coupled with the warmth she offered to everyone in her presence. 

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