Grace Johanna Gilchrist

Grace Johanna Wessels Gilchrist (November 21,1905-January 4, 2003)
Grace Johanna Wessels was born on November 21, 1905 in Macon, Nebraska. She was the daughter of Gerhard (George) Wessels and Antka Johanna Reinder Wessels. Grace's childhood was spent in Iowa with her parents, four sisters (Helen, Marie, Anna, and Edna) and three brothers (Reinder, George, and Bill). After she finished eighth grade and two years of Lutheran confirmation school in Wayne District, Iowa, Grace was confirmed in the Lutheran church at age 14. She then worked for neighbors doing childcare, housework, and seamstress work. At 18, she went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to attend a beauty school. Her sister Marie helped her start a beauty shop in Hopkinton, Iowa. Marie had a shop in Anamosa, Iowa. Grace paid back with interest the money she borrowed from her Dad to get started. At age 21, Grace moved to Topeka, Kansas because Marie had married and moved to Topeka and was homesick.
On March 11, 1931, Grace married Thomas "Tom" Richard Gilchrist in Lawrence, Kansas. Their son James Wessels Gilchrist was born on November 24, 1935. Tom died December 2, 1978.
Tom and Grace both became members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas.
Grace worked numerous places in Topeka: as a clerk at Scott Brothers Dry Goods Store with Marie and at Woolworth's; she then began working for several dry cleaners as a presser and also doing alterations Dollar Cleaners, Nitch's Cleaners, and Les Martin. She moved to Chicago from 1940-1942. When she moved back to Topeka, she worked at Band Box Cleaners, Westboro Cleaners, Fashion Cleaners, and then back to Band Box Cleaners. Her working days ended when .she-suffered a stroke in 1953 at the age of 47, which left her paralyzed on her right side.
Until age 95, Grace lived in her own home by herself and took care of herself. Grace fell in her home and was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital by ambulance October 23, 2001. She had dislocated her shoulder. It was set and that same day she was transferred to Kansas Rehabilitation Center. She was there until November 19, 2001 when she moved to an assisted living apartment in Atria Hearthstone.. After a mild stroke July 28, 2002, Grace was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital. She was transferred to Aldersgate`Care Facility August 2, 2002. She was dropped by a nurse August 6. She was in great pain and it was later determined that she had suffered a fractured pelvis. Pain medications given to her caused her to suffer hallucinations and paranoia. Her health improved somewhat, but she then became weaker and died January 4, 2003 at Aldersgate Care Facility.
Grace had great faith that never wavered. She shared her love with family and friends. Although she had a great sense of humor and zest of living, for many years, she has told her loved ones that she was "ready to go". She has now claimed her place in heaven.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, January 9, 2003 at Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Gilchrist will lie in state from Noon Wednesday, January 8, 2003 until service time at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Heart of America Hospice 3715 SW 29th, Suite 20, Topeka, KS, 66614 or St. John's Lutheran Church, 901 SW Fillmore, Topeka, KS 66604.


PGMT
354-8558
Bob Hoover Funeral Director