Mary Brenda Wilmes passed away peacefully after a battle with lung cancer on July 25th, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. Brenda is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Wilmes and her brother, John Engle. She is survived by her partner Daniel Brewer; son, John and wife, Barbara; her daughter Laura; and her daughter Moira and wife, Denni Harp; three loving grandchildren, Timothy and wife, Claire; Thomas Wilmes; and Amanda James.
Brenda was born June 9th, 1937 in New York City, to Mary Margaret and Ronald Engle. She grew up in Aruba, graduating from the Lago Community High School in 1955. Originally attending Bucknell, Brenda graduated from Miami (Ohio) University in 1959. She married John George Wilmes Sr. in 1960, and started a family with him in Webster Groves, Missouri. After raising her three children, Brenda worked in real estate, receiving an award as real estate woman of the year. After 40 years in St. Louis, Brenda relocated to Punta Gorda, Florida where she enjoyed spending time with family and friends, socializing, and volunteering. Brenda loved conversation, playing cards, and her West Highland Terriers. She was a fiercely loving daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, who always lived life to her fullest. She will be greatly missed.
Services: Funeral from KUTIS AFFTON Chapel 10151 Gravois, Monday August 1, 9:30 AM. Interment JB National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Greater Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated. Visitation Sunday 4-7 PM.
I always enjoyed being with Brenda. She was always ready with a joke and good conversation.
Brenda’s presence on Matares Drive in Punta Gorda is greatly missed.
Those of us still here all have fond memories of her traditional Christmas
Eve chili dinners.
Brenda was always a wonderful sister-in-law and dear friend. We had so many wonderful times together with our joined families in St Louis. She will truly be missed by all
We had many good times at our Gundaker Realtors Better Homes and Gardens office in Bridgeton. Glad you enjoyed the warm weather of Florida when you retired. You never lost your engaging smile.
Dear friend Brenda, Gundaker office meetings, WCR, Christmas Eve chili.
Good times, lots of laughs. Most of all, a true friend, always caring. Brenda let you know she cared. Brenda lived life well. Love you my friend
We first met Brenda & Jack at the birth of Amanda our Granddaughter.
We shared many loving times as Grandmother to Grandmother as the years past.
She was a very good friend as well as family. We will deeply miss her!
Our hearts and prayers are with the family.
Love you forever!
Gary & Delores Young
My husband Mike Kelly learned a lot from Brenda as he was a newbie. Brenda took him under wing and helped him understand the ropes. She was so much fun to be around and always included me in the fun.
Brenda was a wonderful friend and great person. She will be very much missed
Auntie Brenda was such a wonderful person. I love her honesty, generosity and strength. I will truly miss our conversations. She always had such great words of wisdom.
Brenda will missed! She was one of my mom, Pat Trickey’s very best friend. I have so many great memories of growing up in Carrollton. Brenda, Glenda Sanford, Eileen Cushman and mom we’re together so often. I loved seeing Brenda in Punta Gorda too. A beautiful person and spirit.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Brenda and her family lived behind us in Webster Groves when I was young (between age 5-12). We moved to DC in 1963 and kept in touch throughout the years. Ironically, she became friends with my mother’s brother Jim Trickey and his wife Pat when they relocated from Iowa to Bridgeton. I think Brenda was everyone’s ‘best friend’. She taught me how to care for dogs (I used to dog-sit for her). And she opened my eyes to the wide world when she showed me a coin she had with a hole in the middle from her homeland, Aruba. That day I vowed I would one day go to Aruba (I still have to keep that promise!). She taught me how to use an apple peeler gadget to make apple pie which I still do. One day I found her in her living room constructing a big tile mosaic platter with the logo of her husband’s company (Bethlehem Steel?). That helped inspired me to make mosaics and I love tile to this day. She often brought her kids over to play and have coffee with mom in the kitchen or on our back porch. I have a 1963 letter Brenda wrote to my mom where she shared how much she would miss her when we moved to DC. It’s tender and funny at the same time, just like Brenda. She said she was thankful for being able to lend each other money over the years…as little a .50 and as much as $5. They depended on each other in so many ways then. Sadly, my mother passed away almost exactly two years ahead of her. So, I am here to share memories from our family and thank for her friendship that changed our lives.