Cozy reading nook created in memory of beloved teacher

Chris Wibbenmeyer sits in the reading nook he constructed in memory of his sister Pat, surrounded by her friends (from left) Megan Roth, Julie Brooks, Amanda Grein, Barb Lawrence, Tracey Schlichting, Kathy Bergmann, Lisa Hacker, Patti Gremaud and Diane Unterreiner.

Students at Perryville Elementary School are enjoying a cozy new reading nook, created in loving memory of teacher Pat Wibbenmeyer.

The nook, located in the PES Library, features a chair and bookshelves built by Pat’s brother, Chris Wibbenmeyer of Perryville. The shelves are filling with children’s books donated by family, friends, and former students of Pat’s.

Pat passed away Sept. 7, 2016 after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer. She taught at Perry County District 32 for 25 years. She spent 17 years at PES as a first-grade teacher. The next 8 years, Pat shared her passion — reading — as a Title 1 reading instructor at PES.

A photo of Pat Wibbenmeyer, beloved Perryville Elementary teacher who died in September, graces the reading nook created in her honor at the PES Library.

“Pat was such an advocate for children’s reading,” Chris said, “so a reading nook is such a wonderful way for her school to remember her. When Principal Emily Koenig told me that PES wanted to create this memorial to Pat, I was happy to offer to build it for the library.”

Chris created a beautiful Adirondack-style cedar chair for the reading nook, and then constructed bookshelves to surround it. “It was a bittersweet project,” he said. “I don’t know if our family had a real idea of just how many lives Pat had touched throughout her career at District 32, until her co-workers presented us with memory journals from her friends and co-workers, former students, the kids she coached over the years; just thousands of people whose lives were made better by Pat’s love and kindness.

“The school has done such a great job to remember Pat and her contributions to education and to the lives of children,” Chris said. “It means a lot. And to know that her legacy lives on in so many children … There’s such comfort in knowing that her love goes on, but such sadness that it’s not still here with us.”

Pat is survived by her school family; her lifelong best friend Vicki Lohmann; her parents Donald and Dellora Wibbenmeyer; siblings Brenda, Roger, Bruce, Rhonda, Brian, Jane and Chris; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and –nephews.

“Pat loved all children,” said her friend and PES counselor Patti Gremaud. “She loved to help kids read. And she loved her nieces and nephews. She talked about them all the time, and always had a classroom full of them before and after school. Family was so important to her.”

Her fellow Title 1 teachers say that this school year has been difficult without Pat. The beloved teacher is remembered for her humor, her faith, and her tremendous courage as she battled cancer.

“I miss her contagious laughter,” said Diane Unterreiner. “One of Pat’s gifts was that she was always able to guide you to feel individually important. She let you know how much you mattered to her.”

“Pat always put everyone else before herself,” said Julie Brooks (to which Chris replied, “She gets that from her mother.)

“Pat always found a way to have fun, every single day,” said Tracey Schlichting. “And she was so grateful for every little thing,” Brooks added.

It’s those qualities of Pat’s that her friends hope to memorialize with the reading nook in the library that Pat loved so well.

“We wanted a beautiful place for children to be able to cozy up with a book they enjoy,” Patti said. “That’s what Pat truly loved to see. She would love it.”

Special bookplates have been placed in all of the books already donated to the nook, which include the entire series of “Junie B. Jones” books, which were Pat’s favorites to read to her class.

Those who wish to donate books to the PES Library reading nook, in honor of Pat or their own loved ones, can contact Librarian Michelle House at mhouse@pcsd32.com or 573-547-7500 Ext. 225.