Jean Ida Fleischhauer

Jean Ida Roesch Fleischhauer was born on January 5, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Harry and Hulda Roesch. Though both of her parents were deaf, each lived a life marked by skill, dedication, and purpose. Harry was a shoemaker by trade and a respected baseball umpire, known for his calm composure—unmoved by heckling spectators he could not hear for an errant call. Hulda was an accomplished seamstress whose craftsmanship reflected patience and care.

Jean’s father passed away in 1945, leaving Hulda to raise her young daughter. In the years that followed, Jean and her mother lived with family members throughout the St. Louis area. Hulda later married Hubert Elrod, and during that time Jean went to live with her Uncle Mason and Aunt Laura in Hillsboro, Missouri. From their home, Jean completed high school and went on to pursue nursing, ultimately becoming a registered diploma nurse.

While attending the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, Jean met her future husband, Harold Fleischhauer, at her mother’s church—and the rest is history. As Harold continued his studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, he was assigned an internship in New Jersey. During that time, their courtship continued faithfully through letters. Jean and Harold were married on August 17, 1963, in Pevely, Missouri.

Jean and Harold raised three children: Dawn, Mark, and Kirk. Dawn and her husband, Chip Dudley, have three children: Cara, Blake, and Garrett. Mark and his wife, Lisa, have three children—Ally and her husband, Dustin, Bryn, and Kyla—and a granddaughter, Sloan. Kirk and his wife, Jennifer, have two children: Christian and Maya. Jean cherished her family deeply and was a faithful presence in the lives of her children and grandchildren, attending their many theatrical and choral performances, dance recitals, graduations, and countless basketball, baseball, and football games. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren and lovingly crocheting afghans for her family. Jean also had a deep love for animals and delighted in naming each one after a Biblical figure.

Throughout Pastor Fleischhauer’s ministry, Jean devoted herself both professionally and faithfully. She worked in a hospital mental health ward, served as an administrative nurse in nursing homes, worked as a hospice nurse, and later became a counselor in a drug and alcohol treatment program. While each role was meaningful, Jean ultimately sought work that allowed her greater freedom to serve her Lord and her church. She became a school nurse, which enabled her to dedicate her evenings and energy to congregational life.

Jean served her Savior with joy and commitment—as a choir member, junior choir director, bell choir participant, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, director of many Sunday School Christmas programs, and organizer of a quilting group known as the Happy Knotters. Each Sunday, she stood faithfully beside her husband, greeting worshippers as they departed the sanctuary.

Jean met life’s challenges with quiet courage and perseverance. She was a breast cancer survivor, facing her diagnosis and treatment with faith, resilience, and trust in God’s care.

Jean and Harold shared a love of travel and camping. Their journeys began modestly in a World War II–era tent and eventually led them to a diesel pusher RV. Together, they traveled through 46 of the 48 contiguous United States, cherishing both the beauty of God’s creation and the time spent side by side.

In 2017, while camping in Austin, Texas, Jean became seriously ill with MRSA. This illness marked the end of her professional career and began a long and difficult season of health challenges. After nearly a year of hospitalization and numerous surgeries, she was diagnosed with dementia. In her final years, Jean was no longer able to recognize her family. Yet every evening, her husband, Harold, knelt beside her bed, read a brief passage of Scripture, shared a devotion, and prayed. After the prayer, he offered the benediction:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” He would gently add, “…in that peace, go to sleep. And one more thing-we have been married for over 62 years, and I still love you. And now I get to take care of you.” The final words Jean heard from her husband were, “And give you peace.” And in that peace, Jean fell asleep in the arms of Jesus.

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Memorial Gifts

If you are inclined to give, memorial gifts in honor of Jean’s lifelong faith and service or in recognition of her journey with dementia may be made to the Harold and Jean Fleischhauer Endowment Fund

at Concordia University Texas, established to assist students preparing for pastoral ministry, or to the Dementia Society of America.

Visitation with the family will be held at Waltrip Funeral Directors, located at 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas, 77055, on December 30, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A memorial service honoring Jean will be held St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 1353 Witte Road, Houston, Texas, 77055, on December 31, 2025, at 11:00 am.