Marie Ethel Breese

Marie was of Dutch heritage, born in Pella, Iowa to Cornelius and Irene (Van Haaften) Goemaat. She was the fourth of six children: Johanna (Eugene) Hittle, Henry (Marian) Goemaat, Abbie Goemaat, Marie (Edwin) Breese, Clarence (Marian) Goemaat, and Abraham (Janice) Goemaat.

At age 18, Marie was united in marriage to Edwin Robert Breese to whom she was married for 63 years. To that union were born three children, Rosa Marie (Kenneth Earl) Clausen, Nancy Eileen Breese, and Jerry Edwin (Karen Jane Evans) Breese.

She had four grandchildren: Jana Marie (Dustin Scott) Meyer, John Evan Breese (Randy Lee Chidster), Susan Jane (Jason Anthony) Bahl, and Matthew Robert (Sue Ellen Ray) Breese, and four great-granddaughters: Elysia McKenzy Meyer, Edynn Satine Meyer, Emma Sue Breese, and Audrey Jane Breese.

Marie worked for Bon Ton Bakery and later McGregor’s Furniture Store in Oskaloosa, Iowa. When the family moved to Independence, Missouri in 1968, she worked for Home Insurance Company where she became an underwriter.

Edwin and Marie were faithful members of the Gospel Tabernacle (now Fellowship Bible Church) in Oskaloosa, Iowa, until moving to Independence where they joined Tri-City Baptist Church. There Marie taught 4 and 5-year-olds in Sunday School and attended ladies’ Bible studies. After the death of her husband, she began attending Avondale Baptist Church (now Solid Rock Bible Church, where her son Jerry is one of the pastors). She had a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and lived with the strong passion to be pleasing to her Lord. She faithfully read her Bible, prayed with great humility and genuine concern, and attended church whenever the doors were open until she became homebound. She taught her children to trust in and love and serve the Lord Jesus.

Marie was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and husband. In the later years of life, when dementia was beginning to take a toll on her life, her daughter Nancy moved into the home to care for her for about 9 years. But Marie’s last years were lived first at The Gardens On Barry Road, and then Pleasant Valley Manor and Care Center where she was loved and well cared for. She will certainly be missed by family and friends.

Today Marie is absent from her earthly body, but present with the Lord, as well as those family and friends who are welcoming her home.

A visitation will be held at Solid Rock Bible Church, located at 2501 NE Parvin Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64119, on August 7, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The funeral service will follow starting at 11:00 am. Committal service to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, 701 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO, 64050, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm on the same day. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Solid Rock Bible Church in Marie’s honor.