Gladys M. Wittenauer-Thiele

GLADYS M. WITTENAUER-THIELE, 94, of Red Bud, Illinois, passed away at 7:30 am, Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Garden Place in Red Bud, Illinois, surrounded by family.

She was born to the late Albert and Elsie (nee Weihl) Hoffmann on August 2, 1930, in Monroe County, Illinois.

Gladys married Austin T. Wittenauer on August 9, 1949, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church in Hecker, Illinois; he preceded her in death on May 16, 2003. Gladys then married Ray W. Thiele on September 14, 2013, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, Illinois; he preceded her in death on February 9, 2025.

Gladys graduated from Waterloo High School. After high school, she worked at the Monroe County Courthouse and then at North County News in Red Bud. In 1965, she and her husband, Austin, purchased the Foodland Grocery Store from Wilbert Dehne and continued to own and operate the store until their retirement in 1987.

Gladys was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, Illinois, where she was also a member and past president of St. Ann’s Altar Society and was a member of the St. John’s prayer group. She was also involved in many community organizations, including the Red Bud Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of St. Clement Hospital Auxiliary, Red Bud Senior Circle, Red Bud Women’s Club, Red Hat Society, St. Clair County Genealogical Society, and Sister Cities Porta Westfalica. She had been the Past President and a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She had been a Girl Scout leader and a den mother for Boy Scouts for many years.

Gladys wrote family genealogy books. She enjoyed traveling, bowling, and golfing. She was a talented seamstress, an artist, and decorated countless wedding cakes. She had a gift of hospitality. She had a warmth and generosity that will be remembered by many.

The family extends their gratitude to the Garden Place caregivers and Maple Creek Hospice for their compassionate care.

Surviving are her children - Mary Lea (Jeffrey) Van Rider, Rosalie (Garry) Heizer, Shirley (Mark) Vogt, Terry Wittenauer, David (Reneta) Wittenauer, and James (Patricia) Wittenauer; seventeen grandchildren - Crystal (David) Angsten, Austin (Tracy) Van Rider, Kathleen Van Rider, Stephanie (Patrick) Magajna, Kathryn Heizer, Teresa (Nils) Sandell, Bethany (Chris) Kazmierczak, John (Heather) Vogt, Paula (Paul) Ray, Sally (Daniel) Crook, Marie (Kevin) Jackson, Zachary (Sierra) Wittenauer, Nicholas Wittenauer, Claire (Ethan) Fuqua, Lee (Kelly) Wittenauer, and Richie Wittenauer; a step grandson - Kyle (Alyssa) Brunsmann, and sixteen great grandchildren - Nathan and Kaitlyn Van Rider; Miles Becker; Jacob and Heidi Karmierczak; Gabriel, Veronica, and Leo Vogt; Abigail and Caleb Crook; Elsie, Isabel, Benjamin, and Madalyn Jackson; and Lydia and Luke Wittenauer; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Also, surviving are her step-children: Kathi (Joe) Horvath, Kimberly (Jim) Hesterberg, and Scott (Sandra) Thiele; five step-grandchildren: Collin (Rita) Hesse, Robyn Mohrmann, Erin (Tim) Buckley, Justin Hesterberg, and Lindsay Butler; two sisters-in-law: Lorraine Hoffmann and Arline Wittenauer, and one brother-in-law – Lee (Alicia) Kinney.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands – Austin Wittenauer and Ray Thiele; her brother – Harvey Hoffmann, three brothers-in-law – Paul, Wilbert, and Joseph Wittenauer, and nine sisters-in-law – Alfrieda Cowell Wodecker, Mary Aubuchon, Irene Platzkoester, Agnes Franklin, Ruth Wottowa, Delores Reis, Rose Marie Wittenauer, Dorothy Brandt, and Marguerite Ann Brandt.

Funeral Mass:

   11:00 am, Monday, August 4, 2025

   St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Red Bud, Illinois

Officiating:

   Fr. Carl Scherrer

Interment:

   St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery

   Hecker, Illinois

Visitation:

   Sunday – 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

   Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois

   Monday – 9:00 am – 11:00 am

   St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Red Bud, Illinois

Memorials:

    St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Red Bud, Illinois

    St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Red Bud, Illinois

    Life Network

Due to the road construction in front of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, we ask everyone coming to the visitation and funeral to park in the church or school parking lots and enter through the side door off of W. S. 5th Street.