Mary "Mae" Olivia Mersinger Grapperhaus, age 82, of rural Troy, passed away on Saturday, June
5, 2021 at Morningside of Troy where she had lived for the past 2 years.

Mae was born on June 30, 1938, the daughter of Oscar and Louise (nee Levo) Mersinger in
Highland, IL. She attended Spring Valley School, a country school south of Troy, across from the farm in
which she grew up, through the sixth grade. When the country schools were consolidated, she attended
Troy Grade School and graduated from McCray Dewey High School, Class of 1956. She later studied
Journalism at SWIC and SIU-Edwardsville.

As a child she studied piano and guitar under the instruction of Leroy Singleton, a prominent
music teacher in Collinsville. After high school and before marriage and children she worked as a
personnel clerk at Stix, Baer & Fuller in St. Louis for over 5 years.

She married James "Jim" Grapperhaus on June 10, 1961 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
with Rev. J.V. Dineen, officiating. Their children attended and completed all sacraments in the same
church. Jim and Mae farmed south of Troy, raising cattle, pigs, chickens, and growing corn, soybeans and
wheat.

Early in life she began giving piano and guitar lessons. At one time she had 18 students.

She was former Editor of the Times-Tribune and served as a reporter and editor beginning in 1985.
Mae was always involved in a lot of projects, clubs, organizations, both civic and religious. She was a big
promoter of "Troy" and whenever someone wanted to know something about the history of Troy, they went
to the newspaper office and asked for Mae. She enjoyed her friends and could name her entire high school
class and kept in touch with most of them her entire life.

Organizations in which she was a member: Diocesan Catholic Women(DCCW) of which she was
a former secretary. The Alton Deanery, president; National Road Association of Illinois (vice-president,
secretary, treasurer): former member of the Troy Democrat Woman's Club; Troy Jaycettes and Troy Unit
of Madison County Homemakers. She was one of the charter members of the Troy Kiwanis Club. She was
a 4-H Leader of Cloverleaf Ag club for 12 years; former member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
and was president of the Altar and Rosary sodality; she was a former member of Daughter of Isabella (Dof
I) Sacred Heart Circle, Highland, past Vice Regent; was currently a member of the Edwardsville O'Reilly
Circle of D of I; was organist at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, troy and a member of the St. Ann's
CCW and Cemetery Board of the Church.

She was a member an one of the founders of Troy Historical Society and served as president for
many years; Troy Genealogy Society; Woman's Club of Troy; Madison County Historical Society Board
of Directors; U.S. Senator Paul Simon Museum Board officer; McCray Dewey Alumni Committee; the
former Troy Main Street Board of Directors; Troy Chamber of Commerce Board as an Ambassador;
formerly was on the Economic Development commission of City of Troy and recently served on the City of
Troy Historical Preservation Commission. She was awarded the Illinois Woman of Achievement Award in
2000. And was the Troy Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2002. She was Troy Homecoming
Parade Grand Marshall in 2012.

She loved to travel and she and her husband traveled to most of the 50 states, Canada, Mexico,
Europe, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Inlands, and Caribbean. They had traveled to Australia and New
Zealand for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. She had also traveled with a group of McCray-Dewey
school classmates to Central America, Belize, Honduras, and Cozumel; and traveled with other friends and
family to England, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Italy.
She was proud of her large family and loved them very much.

Along with her parents, and in-laws, John and Irene Grapperhaus of St. Rose, she was preceded in
death by her husband, on July 12, 2011.

She is survived by six children, Laura (Scott) Reilson, of St. Jacob, Daniel (Sandy) Grapperhaus of Collinsville, Dennis Grapperhaus of Troy, Darell (Vickie) Grapperhaus of St. Jacob, Dean and Lori Grapperhaus of Highland and Dale (Kerri Klausing) Grapperhaus of Troy. 17 grandchildren; Jared (Amanda) Reilson, Maria Ramsey, Jacob, April & Hannah Grapperhaus, Carolyn, Faith & Grace Grapperhaus, Tiffany (Tom) Pieper, Tracy (Kyle) Cauley and Tanya (Rick) Bisso, Erica (Todd) Wainscott, and Clayton, Kelsey, Colton and Caleb Grapperhaus and Holly Klausing. 8 great grandchildren: Bryn & Claire Reilson, Rilyn Ramsey & Fallyn Frey, Kenley & Kaden Pieper, Harvey & June Bisso. Sister-in law & Brother-in-law Joe & Mary Lou Fischer of St. Rose. Sister in law Marilyn Grapperhaus of Highland Brother in law and Sister in law John & Charlene Grapperhaus of Highland, Sister-in-law Edna Grapperhaus of Highland, Many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A special thank you to Karen Schuessler and the entire staff at Morningside of Troy for treating Mae as their own.  Your compassion and kindness will not be forgotten.

Visitation for Mae will be 4 to 8 pm Tuesday, June 8, and 9 to 10 am Wednesday, June 9, at St. Jerome Catholic, Troy, IL

Funeral mass will be held at 10 am on Wednesday, June 9 2021 at St. Jerome Catholic Church with Fr. Kevin Laughery officiating.  Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Black Jack, IL.

Memorials may be made to St. John The Baptist Chapel, St. John the Baptist Cemetery or the Troy
Historical Society.  Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.Richesonfh.com

RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, IL