Sunday 7/11 - STL Post Dispatch Story

[From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 7/11/04]

Kathleen Marie Mansfield
Was Creve Coeur official

Kathleen Marie Mansfield, an administrator for Creve Coeur for 16 years, died Thursday (July 8, 2004) from complications of scleroderma, a rare arthritic disease, at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur. She was 44 and lived in Ballwin.

Mrs. Mansfield was born and reared in Berkeley. She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1981. She received a master's degree in public policy from Mississippi State University in 1984.

She married Rodger J. Mansfield in 1991.

From 1987 to 2003, Mrs. Mansfield was Creve Coeur's assistant city administrator. Her primary responsibilities included hiring and managing city personnel and serving as liaison to the city's ethics commission, said Annette Kolis Mandel, who was a council member and mayor of Creve Coeur from the mid-1990s to 2003.

Mrs. Mansfield worked tirelessly to save the Tappmeyer Homestead, a historical landmark in Creve Coeur, Mandel said.

"She was the most dedicated city employee that any city could hope to have," the former mayor said. "She had a personal relationship with every staff member, and they returned that attention with loyalty and kindness. Her one goal was to do what was right and what was best for the city of Creve Coeur.

"She was the most ethical person one could hope to have working for any organization. She was the consummate professional. Everybody who knew her will miss her terribly."

Mrs. Mansfield participated in several civic organizations and received the 1997 Assistant City Administrator of the Year Award from the Missouri City Management Association. In the mid-1990s, she served a one-year term as president of the St. Louis City Management Association. She also volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 17 Ann Avenue, Valley Park. A reception will follow.

In addition to her husband, among the survivors are two sons, Jonathan M. Mansfield and Alexander J. Mansfield of Ballwin; a sister, Barbara A. Wilhite of Warson Woods; two brothers, Frank Wilhite and Don A. Wilhite, both of Fenton.

Her husband said a foundation will soon be established to promote education about public service and community involvement.