Obituary of Geraldine Ann Liebert

Geraldine "Jerry" Ann (Walterscheid) Liebert, 82, died January 5, 2015 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. She was born November 25, 1932, in Coffeyville, Kan., the oldest daughter of Geraldine (Thornbrugh) and L. P. James "Jim" Walterscheid. On June 23, 1962, Mrs. Liebert was united in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony with Albert C. Liebert at Holy Name Catholic Church, Coffeyville, Kan., by his brother Father William "Bill" Liebert, SVD. To this union were born three daughters: Ann Marie, Mary, and Jane Ellen. Mrs. Liebert was a lifetime member of Holy Name Catholic Church, Coffeyville, Kan., involved with various activities including the church Altar Society, school carnival, library, Camp Fire, and PTO. She was active in the Coffeyville community with various organizations but had a particular interest with the American Red Cross Pioneer Chapter where she began volunteering as a little girl with her mother in 1944. She took a familiar interest specifically in water safety and became an official Red Cross water safety instructor in 1949. This eventually led to oversight of the Red Cross Pioneer Chapter summer swim program at Harmon pool and Pfister Park pool where thousands of children and adults in southeast Kan. have learned to swim. She also trained lifeguards and water safety instructors at Field Kindley High School pool during the winter months. She not only served as a Board of Director for the local Red Cross Pioneer Chapter, she was a member of the Red Cross Kansas state health and safety board. In 1989, Mrs. Liebert was recognized nationally and became the sixth recipient of the Commodore Longfellow Society of the American Red Cross for her leadership and influence in water safety. Mrs. Liebert graduated from Holy Name Catholic School in 1946, Roosevelt Middle School in 1947, and Field Kindley High School in 1950 where she was a member of the band, Waitress club, Junior Red Cross, Girls Athletic Association, and Girls Drum and Bugle corps (tenor drum). She attended Coffeyville Community College and graduated with in an Associate of Arts degree in 1952. She took pre-pharmacy courses at CCC, participated in the Concert band (clarinet), Marching Band (tenor drum), student council representative, and member of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She was a lab assistant to Warren Kraft, head of the CCC physical science department. Mrs. Liebert then journeyed to Lawrence, Kan., and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas. She was one of two women who graduated that year from the School of Pharmacy. She returned to Coffeyville, Kan. and worked at Columbia Drug as a pharmacist for the next 45 years until it closed in 2000. She then worked at Plaza Pharmacy as a pharmacist for 7 years. Meanwhile, Mrs. Liebert and her two sisters, Jean Waltherscheid and Jane Ellen "Dinger" Catone acquired partial ownership of Isham's True Value Hardware Store (the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi River and the oldest retail business in Coffeyville, Kan. since 1870) through their deceased father's estate. Eventually, the three sisters obtained full ownership of Isham's in 1995. She served as secretary and treasurer. Mrs. Liebert was a lifetime member of the Coffeyville Community College Alumni Association, member of the MU Chapter of Kappa Epsilon pharmacy fraternity for women, lifetime member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association, and member of the Kansas Pharmacist Association. She was a registered pharmacist for 55 years. Mrs. Liebert was recipient of the following: 2009 Coffeyville Community College Alumna and Friend Award for continued support of the college, 2008 Recipient of the Bowl of Hygia Award from the Kansas Pharmacists Association for community service and leadership, 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pioneer Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1989 Sixth Recipient of Lifetime membership to the Commodore Longfellow Society of the American Red Cross, 1988 American Red Cross Pioneer Chapter Exceptional Volunteer Service bestowed upon the Albert Liebert Family for board leadership, outstanding participation in water safety, youth, and blood services, 1987 Certificate of the Appreciation for exceptional service in water safety by the Pioneer Chapter of the American Red Cross, and 1952-55 University of Kansas Residence Hall Scholarship. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Ann Marie and Tim Vannoster, Coffeyville, Kan., daughter Mary Liebert, Tulsa, Okla., and daughter Jane Ellen Liebert, Lansing, Kan. Also surviving are two granddaughters, Kari Ann Vannoster and Katie Marie Vannoster, Coffeyville, Kan., and three grandsons, Albert Jay "A.J." Franklin, William "Will" Thomas Franklin, and John "Jack" David Franklin, Tulsa, Okla. Other survivors include sister, Jean Walterscheid, Coffeyville, Kan.; sister, Jane "Dinger" Catone, Coffeyville, Kan.; cousin, Tom Franken, Coffeyville, Kan.; cousin, Pete Walterscheid, Coffeyville, Kan.; brother-in-law, Robert L. Liebert, Lenexa, Kan.; niece, Caroline Law, Lenexa, Kan., niece, Carol Oneslager, Wichita, Kan., and nephew, James Catone, North Huntington, Pen. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert C. Liebert (2010); brother-in-law, John Catone; brother-in-law, Father William "Bill" Thomas Liebert, SVD; sister-in-law, Lucille A. Liebert; and sister-in-law Patricia "Pat" Liebert. Visitation is Thursday, January 8 at Holy Name Catholic Church, 408 Willow Street, Coffeyville, Kan., 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., with a rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 9 at Holy Name Catholic Church followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery in Coffeyville, Kan. A private funeral dinner will be held at Holy Name Catholic Church gymnasium after burial. Mrs. Liebert requests donations to "Holy Name Catholic School," 406 Willow Street, Coffeyville, KS 67337. Please write "Jerry Liebert Memorial" in the memo line. Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dwbfh.com. Funeral arrangements provided by David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 Cline Road, Coffeyville, Kans., (620) 251-6008.