Grace Anna Poland (Finke) was welcomed into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the age of 101 years. She was born on January 31, 1925, to William H. and Gertrude (Thiele) Finke. The sixth of seven children, she was born in a two-bedroom house in Jennings, MO. She attended school in Jennings, and was valedictorian of her graduating class at Jennings High School. She attended Greenville College in Greenville, IL, where she met and married Lloyd Poland. Grace and Lloyd were married on January 1, 1947, they graduated from Greenville College in June, 1947. Grace earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

In February 1948, Grace and Lloyd welcomed their first child. “Mother” was one of Grace’s most cherished roles. Over the next 11 years, four more children joined the Poland family. Grace thoroughly enjoyed, and excelled at, being wife, mom, and full-time homemaker. She was an excellent cook and loved to entertain. Countless friends and family members enjoyed delicious food and hospitality around her table.

As a young child, Grace accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, the most important, life-changing decision she ever made. She loved people, and her greatest desire was for other people to know and love the Lord. She spent her life serving Him by serving other people. She was actively involved in her church, teaching kindergarten Sunday school, helping lead VBS, heading the women’s ministry, greeting new people and helping them find connections.

Once all of her children were attending school full time, Grace became a volunteer with the American Red Cross. In 2001, she was recognized for 35 years of volunteer service. She spent many hours volunteering at the Lutheran Altenheim in Baden, MO. She enjoyed visiting with and getting to know the elderly residents while delivering and reading mail to them, playingcassette tapes of familiar hymns, and transporting residents to activities in the facility.

In 2006, Grace moved to an independent living apartment at Hidden Lake, a senior community in North St. Louis County.She loved her new home and took part in many activities. She welcomed new residents, helping them adjust and become involved in the community. Her picture appeared in many of Hidden Lake’s publications and promotional brochures, a highway including a highway billboard. She volunteered in Hidden Lake’s skilled nursing facility, where she particularly enjoyed reading books to residents who could no longer read.Grace lived at Hidden Lake for ten years, then moved to Breeze Park in St. Charles, where she again enjoyed being part of the senior community. Once again, she volunteered in skilled nursing. When LSS Hospice (now Evertrue Hospice) developed a volunteer program, Grace became one of their first hospice volunteer. At 95 years of age, she was recognized as the oldest hospice volunteer in Missouri. She continued to volunteer in hospice and skilled nursing until 2020, when volunteering was paused due to COVID restrictions. In 2022, she moved into Breeze Park’s assisted living. In 2024, she became a resident in their skilled nursing, where she had previously been a volunteer.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Lloyd; son Paul, son-in-law Tim Blake, and daughter-in-law Linda, as well as both of her parents, her brothers William Jr. and Paul Finke, and sisters Adelle Boone, Anita Chalfant, Dorothy Pipes, and Ruth Boone. She is survived by her children Gayle (Chuck) Frame, David Poland, Jonathan (Barbara) Poland, and Lois (John) Lanham; grandchildren Phillip (Sandra), Michelle, Katie, Clark, Joshua (Michelle), Megan (Travis),  Julie (D. Jay), Mindi (Martin), Kristin (Nate), and Kelly (Josh); and great grandchildren Victoria, William, Nick, Amelia, Coach, Grace, Emma, Emmeline, Zak, Asher, Jude, Bentley, Louis, and Lucy.

Grace’s family would like to thank the staff at Breeze Park and Ever True Hospice for the wonderful, loving care she received, and for the kindness shown to her family, particularly during Grace’s recent illness.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Community Chapel, 7661 Mexico Road, St. Peters, MO 63376, on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., with visitation at 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Community Chapel Missions Program, or EvertrueBenevolent Care.

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