Anne M. Gootee

Dateline Jasper, Indiana Anne M. (Dreifke) Gootee, age 95, of Jasper, IN, died at 5:10 a.m. on June 2, 2021, at Legacy Living in Jasper, Indiana. Anne was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, on March 23, 1926, the eighth child of Herman A. Dreifke and Anna M. (Hollenbeck) Dreifke. Her parents each emigrated from Germany to the USA in the late 1800s, and met in Saint Louis. She attended Walnut Park Elementary School , Saint Louis, MO, Beaumont High School, Saint Louis, MO, and Fontbonne College (full 4-year scholarship), Saint Louis, MO, B.A. 1947 in Psychology, with a minor in Music. Anne taught second grade at Nativity School in Saint Louis, MO, 1947-1949. On June 25, 1949, she married Dr. Thomas H. Gootee, of Loogootee, IN, at Nativity Church, Saint Louis, MO. Dr. Tom and Anne moved to Jasper in 1953, where Dr. Tom joined the staff of the newly established Memorial Hospital. In addition to running a household and raising seven children, Anne was active at St. Joseph’s Church, the Daughters of Isabella, the PTA at St. Joseph’s School, was a Girl Scout Troop Leader (having been a Girl Scout in Saint Louis), and played in a golf league at the old Jasper Country Club. Anne served as co-chair of the original Jasper Strassenfest and served on the planning committee for three years in the 1970s. She was a lifetime member of the Memorial Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, serving as the President in the 1960s, and was active in Gamma Kappa (formerly Beta Sigma Phi), and Bridge-o-Rama. Her interests included education, reading, cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, bridge and watching the St. Louis Cardinals win baseball games. She loved and was delighted with her many friends and social activities, including her evening card games, at Legacy Living. Anne is preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Dr. Thomas H. Gootee, and all of her siblings. She is survived by her seven children, Elizabeth Lexleigh of Saint Louis, MO, Margaret Carriere (James, deceased) of New Orleans, LA, Jane Nelson (Stan) of Charlevoix, MI, Anne Berger (Greg) of Jasper, IN, Thomas P. Gootee (Denise, deceased) of Jasper, IN, James Gootee (Ting) of Indianapolis, IN, and Ellen Tamura of Bloomington, IN, and eight grandchildren and four great-grand children. Funeral Services for Anne M. Gootee will be held at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery in Jasper. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the Noon Mass time at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. In lieu of flowers please donate to the St. Joseph Church restoration fund (Our Time), Saint Meinrad Archabbey or Memorial Hospital in Jasper. Condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.

Anne M. Gootee

March 23, 1926 - June 2, 2021