After nearly a year delay due to the pandemic, Sacred Heart School was able to officially honor its fourth class of inductees into the Sacred Heart School Hall of Fame on April 17. Honorees gathered for Mass at St. Patrick Chapel followed by a reception, dinner, and ceremony at Sacred Heart School.
The 2020 Hall of Fame class includes the following:
Fr. Andrew Brunswick C.PP.S. (posthumously) was Sacred Heart’s "pioneer" pastor who faithfully shepherded SHS through the founding years of Sacred Heart High School in the 1940s.
Will Kraus '92 is a former Republican member of the Missouri State Senate, representing District 8 from 2011 to 2017. He also served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and is a member of the Missouri National Guard.
Sue (Keller) Wise-Hoersten '58 was the very first acting development director for Sacred Heart School. A mother of seven children, she has always made it a priority to advance the mission of SHS in various paid and volunteer positions.
Marilyn (Fischer) '68 and Jack Arnold: Jack was one of the first members of the SHS Foundation, serving for nearly 25 years. Marilyn excelled in her professional career as a pharmacist and managed to always find time to serve her school and alma mater.
Fr. Mark Miller’s, C.PP.S., first assignment following his ordination was at Sacred Heart school and parish where he served as a teacher and associate pastor from 1971-77. He returned in 2011 to serve as pastor of the Catholic Community of Pettis County, a position he held until his retirement in 2019. He has said more than once (and meant it), “this is my home.”
Leo and Cecilia Gerke (posthumously): The Gerke’s commitment to Catholic education was evident in the many sacrifices they made to ensure their eight children were able to attend a Catholic school and are all graduates of Sacred Heart High School. Many grandchildren and great-grandchildren have followed the SHS tradition. Continuously, since February 1959, one or more direct descendants of Leo and Cecilia have been enrolled in Sacred Heart School.
Bonnie Diefendorf has made Catholic education her lifelong work. She has served at Sacred Heart for more than four decades in many capacities from involved parent, elementary teacher, assistant principal and extracurricular advisor to a beloved retired member of the staff who continues to support the school community as a substitute teacher, volunteer and highly regarded advisor and mentor.
Jane McMullin '87 is one of the finest teachers in the long and prestigious history of Sacred Heart School. Her entire 28-year teaching career has been with SHS. She has earned numerous accolades including Outstanding Graduate Student at CMSU and now twice named SH Teacher of the Year (2001 and 2020).
Candidates for strong consideration include alumni who have made a positive impact on the world in which they live during their Sacred Heart years and/or after leaving Sacred Heart. Candidates also can include groups (such as teams) and non-alumni (SHS faculty, staff, parents, and volunteers) who have in some way made a positive, meaningful, and lasting contribution to Sacred Heart School.
