Catherine "Kitty" Leah Rueseler

Catherine "Kitty" Leah Rueseler passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at The Chateau Girardeau. A native of Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia, she was born December 15, 1925 to Joseph and Bertha McGowan. She attended school in Augusta GA, and graduated from Augusta Jr. College. During World War II she was employed as a secretary at the Augusta Arsenal. On October 24, 1944 Kitty attended an "officers only" dance at Ft. Gordon GA. Her future husband, Vinson "Vince" Rueseler, had just arrived at Ft. Gordon, but because he was not an officer he was not invited to the dance. With determination like many of the Greatest Generation he scaled the drainpipe of the building and entered through a second story window. After observing quietly for a while he spotted Kitty on the dance floor and asked her to dance. While others cut in to dance he made sure he had the last dance of the night because that soldier was given the privilege of walking her to the bus that she would take back to town. She gave him her phone number that night and he kept it in his wallet until his death on March 30, 1998. Kitty and Vince were married March 3, 1945. Following the war they returned to Vince's hometown of Cape Girardeau, MO. While primarily a homemaker Kitty also worked for a time at Rueseler Chevrolet and the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau. Kitty was a longtime and active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau. She was also a 48 year member of Chapter GF, P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was an avid bridge player. As her dear friend Madge Ridings wrote, "She was so Southern and had her own 'Southern language'. She loved people and was loved dearly in return. She was such a devoted friend and let one know it. She was a marvelous cook and proved it often with her dinners and thoughtful gifts. She loved life and was such a delight to be around. She lived life to the fullest. She was beautiful and such a Christian lady." Kitty is survived by her 4 children: Vicki (Jim) Overstreet of Madison, MS, John Rueseler of Houston, TX, Catherine Lowes of Jackson, MO, and Rob (Janet) Rueseler of Cape Girardeau, MO, 7 grandchildren: Olivia Wells, Leah Overstreet, Will Overstreet, Amanda Walker, Mesha Aroutsidis, Drew Lowes, and Eric Rueseler, and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters: Elease Morgan and Martha Tudor of Augusta, GA, Joe (Jeannie) McGowan Jr. of Savannah, GA, Carl McGowan and Bill (Linda) McGowan of Evans, GA, and Leon McGowan of Braslton, GA, and her sister-in-law Ruth Knote of Cape Girardeau. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her good friend and neighbor Dr. Earl Johnson. The visitation for Kitty Rueseler will be at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau on Friday, June 17, from 4 - 7 pm. The funeral will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau on Saturday, June 18, at 10 a.m. The Reverend Dr. Kim Nelson will officiate. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park. The family requests that memorials be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau or to the SoutheastHEALTH Cancer Center in honor of the excellent care she received. From the valet parkers, receptionists, nursing staff, office staff, volunteers, and her wonderful Dr. Andrew Moore she was treated with such care, dignity and respect.

Tributes

Catherine "Kitty" Leah Rueseler

December 15, 1925 - June 12, 2016