Victoria Ann Ritayik Gehlert, born January 11, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026, at the age of 93. She was the beloved daughter of Victor and Marie (Swengrosh) Ritayik.
Victoria was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James Frederick Gehlert, and her sister, Mary June Ritayik.
She is survived by her four devoted children: Kathryn Leeser (Richard), Karen Calabrese (Paul), Kurt Gehlert (Tracey Lichner), and Kimberly Sutherland (Robert). She was a proud and loving grandmother to Holly Adamson (Eric), Brittany Leeser, Clayton Calabrese, Emma Calabrese, Kelly Moore (Hunter), and Matthew Sutherland (Audrey), and a cherished great-grandmother to Felix Adamson. She leaves behind the enduring love, respect, and admiration of her entire family.
Victoria had a strong faith and attended Catholic schools throughout her education. With unshakable resilience, she excelled academically and graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Webster College in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. Her college record included an offer of a Fulbright Scholarship, and the distinction of being the only Summa Cum Laude among all four of the Catholic colleges in St. Louis in her graduation year.
Following graduation, she worked for IBM as a Systems Trainer and Troubleshooter, entering what was then a predominantly male profession — a testament to her intelligence, determination, and pioneering spirit. While at IBM, she met James, the love of her life, and they were married on December 1, 1956. Soon after, she chose to devote herself fully to raising their family, a role she embraced with unwavering commitment and joy.
Victoria was a devoted wife, loving mother, and adoring grandmother and great-grandmother whose greatest passion was her family. She found immense happiness in bringing loved ones together. Beginning in the early 1990s, she and James hosted annual full-family vacations around the world. Because family was always her highest priority, these gatherings ensured that relatives spread across the country would reunite yearly, creating treasured memories that will endure for generations.
Beyond her devotion to family, Victoria lived a full and vibrant life. She was passionate about travel, gardening, reading, and cooking. She loved spectator sports — particularly football, golf, and baseball — and rarely missed an opportunity to cheer from the sidelines or the comfort of her home. She was fiercely competitive at Bridge and proud of the numerous royal flushes she hit while playing video poker. She also enjoyed solving the daily crossword puzzle, approaching it with the same determination and intellectual curiosity that defined her life.
She generously donated her time to charitable causes, most notably volunteering at The Country Store, the fundraising arm of the Missouri Historical Society. Her leadership, dedication, and organizational skills led her to serve as Chairman of the store, where she oversaw all aspects of its operations and made a lasting impact.
Family and friends knew Victoria as someone who lived life to the fullest. She filled every room with warmth, laughter, and unmistakable presence. Her intelligence, generosity, and joyful spirit shaped the lives of all who knew her.
A private family Celebration of Life will be held in August. Victoria and James’ ashes will rest together at St. Paul’s Cemetery, near the family home.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Disabled American Veterans and PBS, two organizations she deeply valued.