Sometimes the world's kindest and most generous people leave the rest of us all too soon. Such was the case on Sunday, December 9, 2018 when Jeanette (née: Ebl) Gindler joined her heavenly family. A resident of Troy, IL most of her life, Jeanette, born on September 27, 1942, was the oldest of three children born to Michael and Audrey Ebl (Klaustermeier). She is preceded in death by her parents and step-father (Russel Klaustermeier) and an infant son, Mark Edward. Jeanette is survived by her husband Glenn, her two brothers Michael (Caroyln) and Thomas (Barb) Ebl, stepbrothers Ron (Carol) and Bud (Nancy) Klaustermeier, and sister-in-law Eileen (Roger) Westfall.

Glenn and Jeanette blended their two families together on December 6, 1980 and last week, they celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. Together, they loved their five children: Randy (Kim) Gindler, Robyn Somraty, Jana Erlich (husband Jeff), Joyce Griggs, and Justin Griggs. Other surviving members of Jeanette's family are her Aunt Fern Mateer and Uncle Milton Hood. She is the grandmother to Kirsten (husband Ben), Kylie, Lars, Chloe, Peyton, and Jack, and she is an Aunt to Shelly, Mindi, Brent, Brian, Mandy, and Chris. Her extended family includes many great-nieces and nephews and dozens of cousins.

Jeanette pursued many passions inspired by a boundless affection to learn. Her quest for knowledge grew from her inquisitive father with whom she listened to radio broadcasts of operas, symphonies, and Broadway musicals. He also instilled her love of reading and travel, which Jeanette immensely enjoyed throughout her life, sharing many of her vacations with family and friends. Glenn and Jeanette admired the wonders of the national parks and culture of local communities from Alaska to New Mexico, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Florida Keys, and traversed the highways and byways from coast-to-coast, always stopping at a roadside stand to pick fresh fruit and vegetables.
Jeanette was a voracious reader and was a life-long learner. As a mother and teacher, she encouraged her family and students to learn new things, and dream of accomplishing otherwise unimaginable success. Jeanette's breadth interests was equally diverse. She easily spoke about topics ranging from archeology, geography, history, art and music, politics, science, and current events. She loved to collect pottery and jewelry and enjoyed gardening, cooking, canning, and baking. She and Glenn even traveled annually to Michigan to pick summer fruits, packed in a dry freezer and brought home to enjoy year-round.

A member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Troy (IL), Jeanette sang in the choir, played piano and organ, and volunteered to make and serve food for church-related events. Her faith fed her generous spirit and kind nature.

After earning a BA in Physics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, she was invited to work at Argonne National Laboratory. As a research scientist she worked at Monsanto, among other chemical companies. After motherhood, she transitioned to teaching at local community colleges and eventually earned her high school teaching certificate and subsequently a Master of Arts in Education (Maryville University at St. Louis). At Collinsville High School, she taught several generations of students AP Chemistry and Physics classes. Jeanette created a safe place for her students to explore and discuss difficult topics of who they were, what they believed, and who they wanted to be as people. She nourished their minds and encouraged her students to make deep and meaningful connections both as students and as people in a complicated world. To this day, many students credit her for their successes and inspiration to pursue their dreams.

Never one to be idle, Jeanette simultaneously raised her children, worked on the family farm, cultivated a large garden and pursued an unfinished Master's degree in organic chemistry. Always a care giver to others, Jeanette invited friends to join her family at holidays if they could not get home to their own families. She helped countless friends, family and even strangers in their times of need and demonstrated her abundance of love for those who entered her life.

Even as she faced a terminal diagnosis from pancreatic cancer, she remained an active member in the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 365 and recently elected as 2nd Vice President of District 22, representing 5 regional counties. She tirelessly worked to raise scholarship funds for children of veterans.

Most recently, she helped Glenn make a Thanksgiving cranberry-apple pie, and they enjoyed an intimate holiday dinner by candlelight – she devoured a scrumptious dinner of smoked turkey, sweet potatoes and steamed vegetables, and pie! She and Glenn gave doctors caring for her farm-fresh eggs and many sat at her bedside after their shifts to speak about medical research, always optimistic that a cure or advanced treatment could help her continue to live her life enjoying her family and friends who are so important to her.
Jeanette's spirit will live on as she gave a piece of her heart, soul, and mind to her family, friends, and students. Jeanette demonstrated courage, strength, and unending faith as she fought pancreatic cancer for the last six months of her life. Join us in celebrating her on Friday, December 14 and Saturday December 15. Details follow below.

The visitation will be at Richeson Funeral Home (Troy, IL) from 4:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday followed by the funeral service Saturday at 1:00 pm, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Border Street Troy Illinois 62294. Memorials in Jeanette's honor can be given to: St. Paul's Lutheran Church or the American Legion's Auxiliary Unit 365 Collinsville, Illinois.

RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, IL