Grace L. Pope

Grace L. Pope, age 100, of Lake in the Hills, IL, formerly of Harvard, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026, at Melody Living in Lake in the Hills, IL. She was born on April 23, 1925 in Hinsdale, IL to Reinhold and Martha (Staffeldt) Zielke. She lived in Oswego, IL from 1927 to 1959; she attended the Oswego Schools and graduated from Oswego High School, as President of the Class of 1943. Her secretarial career started in Chicago, working for the government, and included working for Dr. John P. Hill in Harvard, IL and for Richard R. Cross, Attorney in Woodstock, IL.

She married Austin J. Pope on November 3, 1945 in Aurora, IL. He preceded her in death on June 11, 2007. Throughout their marriage they lived and farmed in the lllinois communities of Oswego, Huntley, and Harvard, until 1966 when the family moved into Harvard when Austin managed the Ralston Purina Feed Store in Harvard.

She was an active and faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Harvard. She enjoyed singing in the choir, quilting, was recording secretary for the church council, was active and past Conference Chairman of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Throughout her life, she was a 4-H leader, member of the Business & Professional Women Group in Harvard; volunteered at the Harvard Food Pantry and was an election judge until the age of 96. She enjoyed doing crafts and sewing, however, her main passion in life was her family. She enjoyed using social media to keep in touch with four generations of her many nieces, nephews and their families. Austin and Grace enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, Switzerland, South Padre Island, TX, Lake Delton, WI and many timeshare locations. After Austin's passing, she enjoyed traveling with her daughters.

She celebrated life by sharing stories of how much she loved God and her family. Grace was also known for her kindness and unique ability to talk to anyone and making new friends whenever traveling.

She was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, and siblings, George (Emily) Zielke, Bertha (Burdette) Wood, Henry (Emily) Zielke, Helen (Garnet) Hudson, Ray (MaryEllen) Zielke, Marjorie (Robert) Kaetzer, Dorothy (Robert) Hendrickson, and Austin's siblings MaryAda (Walter) Parks, Charles (Margie) Pope and Miriam (David) Orr and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is survived by four daughters, Kathy (Roger) Porep, of Woodstock, IL, Marcia (Jim) Mecum, of Babcock Ranch, FL, Nanette (Ray) Phillips, of Batavia, IL and Jeanine (Steve) Creviston, of Harvard; seven grandchildren, Leah (Jeff) Campbell, Nicole (Rev. Matthew) Nolte, Jill (Nick) Marsh, Todd (Kelly) Phillips, Lisa (Andrew) Cook, Matthew (Kari) Creviston and Jaclyn (Wayne) Jesionowski; 19 great-grandchildren, Jaylee, Austin, Kaelyn, Zaccary, Autumn Nolte, Piper and Paxton Campbell, Michael and Mason Marsh, Grayson, Lucas, Oliver Phillips, Mackenzie and Jason Cook, Lincoln, Scarlett, Stevie Marie Creviston, Taryn and Landon Jesionowski: many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 10:00 am until the service at 1:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1601 N. Garfield Road in Harvard. IL. The Rev. Caleb Schauer will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff of Melody Living in Lake in the Hills, IL and Heartland Hospice for their wonderful care and attention shown to Grace.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), 1601 N. Garfield Road in Harvard, IL, 60033

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