GRACE LOUISE (WIEDERAENDERS) VORDENBAUM OHLENBUSCH

Grace Louise Ohlenbusch, age 81 of San Antonio, TX, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Grace was born August 20, 1940, in Seguin, Texas, to Arthur and Elfriede Wiederaenders.  She graduated from Seguin High School in 1957 and Texas Lutheran College in 1961.  She married James Vordenbaum in December 1961.

After receiving a Master's Degree in English from Southwest State Teacher's College, she taught English at Seguin High School for 10 years.  She loved her students well and has remained in contact with many of them over the past 50 years.

In 1973 Grace and Jim opened Vordenbaum's Hallmark Shop in Seguin, and Grace began a new career as a businesswoman.  In the early '80's, her passion for music led her to return to college to earn a bachelor's degree in Organ Performance at Texas Lutheran and then a master's degree in Organ Performance from The University of Texas.  Combining both her passion for music and her love of teaching, she returned to Texas Lutheran and served in the Music Education department.  Again, many of her students were inspired by her loving, funny, quirky, and vivacious ways of teaching and mentoring.

She moved to Naples, Florida in 1987 where she served for three years as organist/choir director at Trinity by the Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, Florida.  But when she returned to a TLU homecoming in 1991, she met John Ohlenbusch and fell in love.  She moved to San Antonio where they married in 1992.  She taught in the San Antonio School District for several years, and she began a summer study program at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, eventually completing a doctorate in Musical Arts. She taught at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway until her "retirement".  Grace and John moved back to San Antonio, where she was active in the church music community for 15 years, especially at St.  Mark's Episcopal Church, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, and in the American Guild of Organists.

Grace loved her family, anything musical, and art.  She enjoyed making quilts with her dear friends at Abiding Presence for Lutheran World Relief and her entire family.  She enjoyed travel and adventure…riding the mules down into the Grand Canyon, cruising through the Panama Canal and around the tip of South America.  She also loved sports, especially the Spurs and the Cowboys.  She liked to laugh.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, son William Vordenbaum and stepdaughter, Kay Ohlenbusch.  She is survived by her husband of 29 years, John Ohlenbusch, son Eric Vordenbaum and wife Brenda, stepchildren Linda (Harlan) Friedman, Carl (Norma) Ohlenbusch and Nancy Ohlenbusch; sisters Carla Anderson, and twin Helen (LuVerne) Anderson; grandchildren Maddie (Stephen) McConnell, Kurt Vordenbaum, and Claire (Charles) White; step-grandchildren Maggie (Kevin) Campbell and Clara Ohlenbusch.  Also the lights of her life, great-grandchildren Sam, Olivia, Caleb and Meera McConnell and the new baby, Robin White.  She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and their children.  Last of all, she leaves her fur-babies Benny and Bandit.

Funeral service for Grace Ohlenbusch will be held on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 2:00 pm at St Mark's Episcopal Church, 315 E Pecan St, San Antonio, TX, with the Rev. Matthew Wise officiating.  The rite of interment will follow in the St. Mark's Episcopal Church Columbarium.  Reception to follow at Franklin Park, 230 W. Sunset, in San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abiding Presence Lutheran Church Music Program, 14700 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78232, or St. Mark's Music Program, 315 E Pecan St, San Antonio, TX 78205 or also to the Lutheran World Relief, 700 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230, or online.