Lois Jean Schrier

Jean passed away peacefully on Jan 27, 2022 in O’Fallon, MO. She was born in the family home in Aug 1928 to Charles E and Florence B Knorr (nee Hushman). She was the youngest of ten siblings, 8 living plus 2 that died in infancy. She grew up in the Carondolet Park area of St Louis, Missouri. Since Jean was the youngest, her closest siblings were her sisters Virginia “Dena” 11+ and Ruth 7+. Most of her brothers and sisters were much older and married, but lived near by, except for her oldest sibling Betty who also lived at home. They all enjoyed playing with their neighborhood friends and regularly going up to the local candy/ice cream shoppe and regular visits to the movie theater. They walked everywhere. Like her siblings before her, she attended Cleveland High School, class of 1945. She was voted “prettiest eyes” because of her striking blue eyes!.

After high school, Jean focused on her love of dance and began dancing with the Virginia Ascher Girls Dance Troupe at the Hotel Jefferson downtown St Louis. This is where she met her beloved husband of 49 years, John “Jack” Schrier. They enjoyed lots of fun and frivolity with her dance troupe friends and their mates. After dating several years, Jean and Jack married in her family home on St Patrick’s Day. They had three daughters, Jill, Lori and Ellen and made St Louis their home, but later moved the family to Chicago where Jack’s family was. Jean made numerous friends from her time as an Illinois Bell telephone operator, and a banker at a local bank in Northbrook, IL. Many weekends were spent with friends playing board games and penny ante poker! Much fun was had by all!

After over 25 years at the bank, Jean and Jack retired to Albuquerque, NM near daughter Jill, where she lived until early 2000 after the death of Jack. Then she and her sister Ruth moved to the Tampa area where her daughter Ellen and her family lived. She made many wonderful friends who she adored. Jean loved her life in Florida. But after a minor fall, and 18 years in Florida, Jean made her way back to the St Louis area to be closer to family.

After the death of Jack and her best friend and sister, Ruth, Jean engulfed herself into her church and the many friends she made there. She was busy doing something at or for the church almost daily. Food pantry, UMW club, bile study, volunteered for their annual fish fry and rummage sales, and mostly those fun game nights with her friends. Jean was always up for playing a game! Jean adored music, dancing, old and new movies and lots and lots of games. She befriended many people at her United Methodist church families in Northbrook, IL, Safety Harbor, FL as well as her most recent church family at Faith United Methodist Church. She was always involved with choir, bible study, UMW as well as founding a food pantry with her sister Ruth in Safety Harbor, that is still servicing their community.

One of Jean’s greatest joys & accomplishments was being a sister, wife, mother and grandmother! She was so fantastic at all!

Through the years Jean traveled extensively across the United States and Canada with Jack and her children, as well as her sisters and niece and nephew. Everywhere from San Francisco to Maine, Michigan to Louisiana and many states in between. She also traveled through many Canadian provinces. She cherished their wonderful family vacation to Jamaica in 1968. Jean loved photos and she had many albums recounting all her travels. She also worshiped her family photo albums and historical artifacts. She was thrilled to find out through her ancestry DNA that her family heritage was 44% Swedish, 36% English/UK, 10% German and 10% Norwegian! Lots of pride in knowing that information!

A few years ago, Jean’s daughters threw a 90th birthday party for her where many family members attended who had not seen her in years. She really enjoyed that day. Lots of beautiful pictures and memories were had that day. She was so happy to see people who traveled near and far just celebrate her!

Jean is survived by her daughters, Jill (Carl) Manske, Lori (Robert) Merritt and Ellen Schrier. Grandchildren Christina Merritt, M.D., Andrew Merritt, Samantha Faingold, Benjamin Faingold and Matthew Faingold as well as a step grandson, Jay Manske, many nephews, nieces and great nephews & nieces, as well as the Schrier family nieces and nephews and their families. Jean was preceded in death by her husband Jack, Father Charles Edward Knorr, Mother Florence Bertha (Hushman), infant brothers Joseph Dale & Robert Leslie, brothers Sherman Knorr, Harry Knorr, sisters Bessie (Betty) Knorr, Thelma (Williams), Marie (Falter), Virginia (Gaynor) and Ruth (Spitz), brothers and sisters-in-laws and her beloved nephew Don Coonrod and nieces Deannie (Aufdemberge) and Carole Moore.

Jean adored her family and friends and loved spending time with all of them. She will be missed by many. To honor her memory, please visit https://bit.ly/3GkQZtp and check “tribute gift.” Thank you! Ellen