1
tree
planted in memory of Emma Jeanne Gschwend
Obituary for Emma Jeanne Gschwend
Emma Jeanne Gschwend, 95, of Pekin, Illinois, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Bickford Cottage in Peoria, Illinois. She was born in Humboldt, Missouri, on September 8, 1930, to Lula Magdalen Riney and William Henry Nuce. Her birthday may have been September 7, as records were a little fuzzy back then. She was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother, and is lovingly remembered by her sister, Margaret Weyer of Fayetteville, Arkansas and many nieces and nephews.
Jeanne and Charles Ray Gschwend were married on June 2, 1949, at St. Paul’s Church in Pocahontas, Arkansas. They celebrated 70 years of loving marriage in 2019. Chuck passed away on January 11, 2020. They moved to the Peoria area during the Second Great Migration and joined Chuck’s extended family working at Caterpillar.
They had three children: Ron (Anne) Gschwend of Olympia, Washington; Mary Anne (Joe - deceased) Eisenhower of Pekin, Illinois; and Char (Alan) Rush of Norwood, Illinois.
She had six grandchildren: Charlie Gschwend of Los Angeles, California; Christopher Gschwend and Curtis Gschwend of Olympia, Washington; Matthew (Shannon) Eisenhower of Peoria, Illinois; Kibby (Fred) Flores of East Peoria, Illinois; and Kendra (Kyle) Varnold of Washington, Illinois. She also proudly welcomed ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren into her arms.
Jeanne shared her love by feeding anyone who came to visit. She loved to cook and, at last count, had at least a million recipes. She filled everyone’s plate before her own—putting others first at suppertime as she did in life. Even after she “retired,” she watched several hours of cooking shows each day.
Her passion for cooking was only surpassed by her love of gardening. She was on her knees well into her 80s—planning, planting, cultivating, admiring, and harvesting her flowers and vegetables. She shared both beauty and heritage by bringing heirloom iris bulbs and roses from her mother’s garden, now replanted and blooming in family gardens across the United States.
Her deep faith in God and devotion to the Catholic Church were evident every day. She often prayed with her family and was an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish, contributing to the school, the Altar Society, and the Ladies of Columbus. She generously shared her love of cooking with her community through church banquets, bake sales, funerals, meetings, and more. In the early 1960s, she was honored as Mother of the Year by the Ladies of Columbus.
Growing up during the Depression on a self-sufficient farm without indoor plumbing instilled in her a deep sense of resourcefulness and frugality. She spent hours clipping coupons, discovering small treasures at garage sales, and expertly sewing clothes for her family—making sure everyone was well fed, well dressed, and having a little fun, too.
Her love of food, flowers, frugality, and faith all came together in her greatest love—her family. Everything she did, in both body and spirit, was centered on those she loved. She was, above all, a devoted mother. Even in the fog of dementia, when she met her great-great-grandchildren, the smile of a new mother lit her face.
In 1938, she and her family survived a tornado that lifted their home and set it back down again, with no one harmed except the family dog. Our family was blessed to have our own Dorothy of Oz. May her warm hugs, laughter, and smile now light up the land over the rainbow.
She was truly a great woman, and her generosity, selflessness, creativity, and kindness will live on as an example for generations to come.
“I love you a bushel and a peck,
and a hug around the neck.
A barrel and a heap—
I’m talkin’ in my sleep
about you, about you, about you.”
— The Andrews Sisters
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, Illinois with visitation one hour prior at the church. Father Michael Andrejek will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pekin, Illinois.
The family has entrusted Abts Mortuary in Pekin, Illinois with her arrangements. Online condolences may be made at abtsmortuary.com
To plant a tree in memory of Emma Jeanne Gschwend, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...