Mary “Jean” Angermeier Denker of Crescent Hill passed away peacefully at home with her family and husband of 59 years Edward L. Denker at her side on January 29, 2019. Jean was a huge lover of all things basketball and led five teams to City Champions. After meeting the love of her life, and receiving approval from her teams of players, Jean received the okay to marry Ed.
Together they went on to adopt four children, and numerous stragglers from the Crescent Hill neighborhood where they lived for over 50 years. At George Rogers Clark Elementary School, she was the president of the PTA, where she and the Principal would drive to students’ homes to make sure they had a ride to school. As a member of American Turner’s, she taught boys tumbling, adagio, trapeze, and the merry-go-round for the annual circus and assisted with many swim meets and “greasy watermelon” pool parties.
She was president of the following Auxiliary’s: St. Anthony Medical Center, Sacred Heart Village, Caritas Peace, and the Nazareth Home. Finally, she served as president of the PTA at Field Elementary, secretary for Pilot Life Insurance (20 yrs) and at Presentation Academy (15 years). At Presentation Academy, she began friendships with many of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth with whom she remained so close.
In addition, she sang with Sweet Adeline’s, The Pride of Kentucky Chorus. Her quartet received awards for various competitions. As a survivor of the April 3rd, 1974 tornado, she was known for “Tying a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree” …, a symbol for rebuilding and coming home.
She and Ed formed lifelong friendships with the Mennonites and Amish who rebuilt their home. She remained an active member of her community and church. She would go on to coach her grandchildren at St. Joseph Catholic School in Butchertown.
In her final years, her greatest joy was her Catholic faith, her beloved church family, and her own family whom she loved so dearly. She was preceded in death by her twin sister Mary Jane, her father Theodore Angermeier, and mother Virginia Kathleen Gutgsell Angermeier. Besides her husband, Edward Leo Denker, Jean is survived by her children, Trini Lunsford (Sylvester Jr.) , Kathleen Bridwell, Jennie C Denker, and Brian Denker (Audria); grandchildren, Brittney Gorter (Kristopher), Brandi Bridwell, Jeremy Deal (Mala), Brian Timothy Bridwell (Dana), Sylvester Lunsford III (Brandy), Melissa Bridwell (Rob), Tyler St. Julian (Shelby), Siera Denker, and Alexandra and Jennifer Roth; great-grandchildren, Kobe, Hannah, Sylvester IV, Isabella, Kole, Grace, Maddyson, Maci, Kennedy, Kayden, Tyler II; and numerous grand and great-grand doggies.
In addition, Jean leaves an extended family of nieces, nephews, and ‘adopted’ kiddos. Specifically, Natalie and Robert Bridwell (and their children Dereck and Clare), Robin Proctor, Marvin Thomson, and the late Julie Beam Roth; along with numerous Crescent Hill families from the Cousins, Kesslers, Russell’s, and Benner’s, to her St Joseph family including the Otis’s, Jaggers, Ross’s, Sieferts, Farris’s and so many others too long to mention, but not forgotten. The family wishes to thank Audria Denker and Debbie Jaggers Kessler for everything they did to get Mother home.
The family also thanks Brandy and Sherry Cissell, and Dana and Natalie for the care they gave Grandma Denker in her final days. Her painted red nails, make-up, and hair made her so beautiful. Finally, the nurses in the family thank Melanie Wheeler for attending to mother during her final hours so we could be her children.
Her Visitation will be on Sunday, February 3 from 2:00pm – 8:00pm at Ratterman Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Road, ”in St. Matthews”. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am on Monday February 4 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3345 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206. Jean will be cremated and interred later.
The family will receive visitors at the Original Denker Abode, 2707 Grinstead Drive, Louisville KY 40206 following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be sent to Exploited Childrens Help Organization, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40210, Hosparus Health of Louisville, 3532 Ephraim McDowell Dr, Louisville, KY 40205 or Home of the Innocents, 1100 East Market St, Louisville, KY 40206. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary “Jean” Angermeier Denker please visit our Sympathy Store.
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