Jutta Karnstedt Ferretti, 97, formerly of Shelby, died on Dec. 25, 2021, at Indywood Estate in Cleveland. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 11, at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church 215 Bishop Road, Cleveland.
All are welcome to attend this celebration of her life which also falls on what would have been her 98th birthday. Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by Mass.
She was born June 11, 1924 in Magdeburg, Germany to William Theodore and Waldtraut Wahlstab Karnstedt. She emigrated to St. Louis, with her parents and younger sister, Gisela. A graduate of Ferguson Senior High School, she attended Rubicom Business College.
On a blind date she met a young soldier, John S. Ferretti of Shelby, who was stationed at Jefferson Barracks Military Post. They married November 23, 1943, before his deployment to the Pacific. They later moved to Shelby and founded John S. Ferretti Building Materials in 1959 where they worked side by side until retirement.
They were extensive travelers. Jutta enjoyed entertaining and was known for her tablescapes – providing decorations for dinners at both their home or in restaurants. Upon the death of her beloved Johnny in 2005, Jutta enrolled at Delta State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, magna cum laude, on Dec. 11, 2010 at age 86 – gaining distinction as the oldest graduate in the history of Delta State University.
She was a member of Pi Gamma Mu, Kappa Pi, and was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. The Jutta Karnstedt-Ferretti Special Collection Room in the Roberts - LaForge Library was dedicated in her honor. She was a member of the Shelby Woman’s Club, Cleveland Woman’s Club, board of Crosstie Arts Council, Friends of the DSU Library and AMICI, Metropolitan Opera support group.
A faithful member of the Cleveland Rotary Club, she was a Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. and Mrs. Ferretti were lifelong learners and education advocates. They endowed scholarships at Mississippi State University for the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Forestry, Architecture, and Engineering; at Delta State University in nursing, pre-med and art; and at St. Louis University in nursing and pre-med.
Mrs. Ferretti was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Gisela Karnstedt Liekweg Skyles and nephew, William Liekweg.
She is survived by nephews John Letchworth (Jane) of Shelby, who served as her caregivers, Ronald Skyles (Sharon) of St. Charles, Mo, Randy Skyles (Jill),of St. Charles and Fred Liekweg of Florissant, Mo.; nieces Paula (Mike) DeManue of Torrance, Calif., Judy (Tim) Freeman of Naples, Fla., Barbara (Dan) Hillsman of Austin; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. The family is grateful for the happy years Jutta spent as a member of the Indywood Estate family. Special thanks go to Paige Burns, director, and her excellent, caring staff and to Hospice of North Sunflower.
Jutta forged a special bond with Alexias Rankin and her personal caregivers, Lisa Isler, Valerie McKnight, Mary Roach and Shantel Williams. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the charity of the donor’s choice or the Ferretti/Karnstedt Scholarship Fund at DSU, Miss. St. University, or St. Louis University.
