Patricia Ann “Pat” Siemer
1949–2026
Patricia Ann “Pat” Siemer (née Gamble) spent her life gathering her family around her, and that is how she left us: at home in St. Louis on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in a house already decorated for Christmas, with her family at her side, sharing stories and memories of her life. She was 77.
Pat was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1949, the daughter of Irene and William Gamble. She grew up with her beloved brother, Bill, and was active in Methodist Youth Fellowship. At East St. Louis Senior High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated among the top ten students in her class in 1967. She went on to study accounting at Millikin University in Decatur, where she would meet the love of her life and graduated magna cum laude in 1971. Shortly after graduation, Pat began her career at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis as an assistant bank examiner.
In 1975, at age 25, she became the first woman to hold the title of bank
examiner in the history of the St. Louis Fed.
Pat was raised Methodist, converted to Catholicism in her twenties, and remained devoted to her Catholic faith throughout her life. She married Joseph E. Siemer in 1972, beginning a marriage that lasted 54 years. Together they raised two children, Matt and Susie. She loved being a mother, and family remained the center of her life, especially as her children grew and started families of their own.
Pat also loved working outside the home. After leaving the Federal Reserve in 1978 to raise her children, she eventually found a way to bring those two parts of her life together. She began volunteering at the library at St. Francis of Assisi School, where Matt and Susie attended, and by 1989 she was running it. In 1995, she became the parish business manager, a position she held for 18 years. She oversaw much of the parish’s day-to-day operations, managing its finances, staff, and facilities, and was someone the parish relied on to keep everything running.
St. Francis was more than a workplace for Pat. Her faith and parish community were important parts of her life, and she gave generously of her time. She served on the School Board and Parish Council, was president of the St. Ann Sodality, sang as a cantor, and helped with countless parish activities over the years. Whether it was the annual picnic, a fish fry, or a turkey shoot, Pat could often be found helping out.
Pat had a sharp mind, strong opinions, and a dry, sometimes biting sense of humor. She wasn’t always inclined to say exactly what she was thinking, but her facial expressions usually gave her away. She could be tough, but she was also deeply sensitive and fiercely loyal to the people she loved.
More than anything, Pat loved having her family together. She especially enjoyed cooking for them, and her holiday meals were elaborate affairs. Her eggnog and cream cheese mashed potatoes were family traditions. She also loved making her home warm and welcoming, filling it with decorations, crafts, and little treasures collected over the years. Christmas was a particular favorite, with her glass bells, ornaments of Hans, the family dog, and her white porcelain Christmas tree among her most cherished decorations. When she wasn’t cooking or decorating, Pat enjoyed sewing, cross-stitch, crafts, puzzles, and reading.
Those meals, holidays, and ordinary moments together are what we’ll remember most. We’ll remember her in the familiar sights and sounds of the holidays, in the dishes she taught us to love, and in the laughter around the table. There will always be stories to tell about her, and we know we’ll never run out of reasons to wish she were still here to hear them.
Pat is survived by her husband of 54 years, Joseph Siemer; her children, Matt Siemer (Molly Jones) and Susie (Eric) Kalinowski; her grandchildren, Will and Melanie Kalinowski and Juliet, Molly and Cate Siemer; her brother, Bill (Debbie) Gamble; and her nieces and nephew, Kaylee (Bobby) Macedo, Mindy Gamble, and Jase (Emily) Gamble. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and William Gamble.
Services: Visitation will be held Friday, November 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, November 14, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Telegraph Road, followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Fund.