Marie Jean Lieneke

Marie Jean (Deeken) Lieneke, 90, of Linn, formerly of Chamois and Hermann, passed away on June 21, 2025, at Stonebridge, Westphalia, after months of failing health and grieving the loss of her only son.

Marie was born on January 28, 1935, on a farm near Martinsburg, Missouri, to August and Henrietta (Renneke) Deeken. Marie was the last surviving sibling of seven.

When Marie was 2, the family moved to a farm near Linn, Missouri. Marie attended Potts School until she finished the 8th Grade. Her father did not believe in higher education for girls, so Marie then worked in various garment factories, as well as helped on the farm, tending to the huge garden, cooking for the family, and raising turkeys with her sister, Pat, for extra income to help support the large family.

On November 21, 1959, she married Marvin Arthur Lieneke, who preceded her in death on December 22, 2023. To this union, five children were born with two infants stillborn. The two surviving children are: Marsha (Dale) Gloe of Hermann, and Marilyn (Chris) Keilholz of Linn.

Marie’s pride and joy were her grandchildren whom she loved dearly and prayed for daily. Her five grandchildren are: Benjamin (Autumn) Gloe of Hermann, Justin Gloe of Springfield, Dr. Emma Gloe-Free (Kevin) of St. Louis, Kaylyn (Nathan) Bush of Jefferson City and Jessica Walter of Linn. Marie was overjoyed when she became a great-grandmother to Lachlan Walter and Lillian (Lilly) Grace Gloe saying she now had one of each.

Marie spent most of her married life on a Missouri River bottom farm near Chamois, Missouri where she worked tirelessly, often rising at 4 a.m. to tend to the needs of her husband, children, livestock, poultry and garden. She selflessly put the needs of her family before herself. Marie was an excellent cook, creating homemade meals and desserts. Marie was also a superb seamstress sewing clothes for herself and her children, as well as making quilts. For many years she enjoyed quilting with the ladies at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church. She was also very talented at embroidery and tatting. Marie was well known for her green thumb. Marie was the happiest outdoors tending to her colorful displays of flowers or in her large vegetable garden. She preserved much of the produce for the winter months. She also tended to a large strawberry patch for her own use and for selling to customers in Chamois. She raised and butchered chickens every year to feed her family, as well as kept a large flock of laying hens for her use and for selling eggs to customers in Chamois. Living in the Missouri River bottom, she diligently battled the Missouri River floods of 1973, 1986 and the Great Flood of 1993.

Marie was very active in Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Chamois where she taught in the School of Religion and cleaned the church. She actively raised her children in the Catholic faith, as well as instilled in them punctuality and an aversion to liquor, drugs and smoking.

After her last child graduated high school, Marie went to work at Morrison Apparel where she worked until she was 75. When she retired, she and Marvin moved from the farm to Hermann where she lived until Marvin’s death and her failing health required her to move to Harbor Place Assisted Living in Linn. Marie loved to talk about how she was raised and reminisce about relatives. Marie enjoyed the camaraderie of her large family, and her siblings nicknamed her “Sis.” Being the last member of her family left a void in her life, and she missed talking with her siblings but especially her daily phone calls with her sister Pat.

Marie enjoyed working on puzzles, reading, and her latest hobby, diamond painting. She also loved feeding and watching backyard birds. Her favorite hobby was tending to her hummingbird feeders and watching hummingbirds. Marie especially enjoyed visits from her many nephews and nieces and was always so grateful that they came to visit her.

Marie is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Robin Lieneke; two sisters-in-law, Margaret (Lieneke) Sacshe and Marilyn (Whithaus) Deeken; two step grandchildren, Michael Massey and Benjamin Massey, and two step great-grandchildren, Cali Conley and Eric Massey; many nieces, nephews, friends and her cat, Buddy.

In addition to her husband and parents, Marie was preceded in death by her son, Mark Lieneke (who died June 11, 2025), and two stillborn children, Mary Ann and Marty Lieneke. Marie was preceded in death by her three brothers, Wilbert Deeken, Norbert Deeken and Gerald (Bud) Deeken; three sisters, Louise (Lou) (Deeken) Erickson, Tharsilla (Pat) (Deeken) Lieneke, and Berniece (Butch) (Deeken) Joyce. She was also preceded in death by her brothers-in-law, Lester Lieneke, Herbert Lieneke, Robert Sacshe, and Hadley Joyce; and sisters-in-law, Ruth (Leimkueller) Lieneke and Mary Ruth (Riegel) Deeken.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Morton Chapel in Chamois with funeral service to follow at 12:00 p.m. with Fr. David Means officiating. Interment will be at the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery in Chamois.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, the American Cancer Society, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements are under the direction of Morton Chapel in Chamois 573-763-5522. www.mortonchapel.com