Theresia Helene Reinhart May passed away August 18, 2025 at
the age of 88, surrounded by her family. Theresia lived life to the
fullest, and raised a family that continues her strong work ethics and passion
for life. Theresia was born on April 17, 1937 in Germany to Willie
Reinhart and Wilma (Seitz). After her mother’s passing at a young age,
her father was drafted and then later a POW in WWll. While writing
postcards home, Willie met a pen pal, Emmi Reinhardt, whom he later married
while on leave. Emmi and her new daughter Theresia survived the difficult war
years and those after by working together, they foraged the woods for food and
firewood and made do with very little. Theresia learned how to be very hard
working, resourceful, and independent from these early years during the war, a
trait that never left her. Once her father returned home in the late 1940’s,
the family started a restaurant, “Der Deutsche Kaiser”, where she learned to be
an excellent cook, host beautiful parties, and work long hours. She was an
apprentice seamstress and after graduation her great aunt gifted her a ticket
to America. In 1955 at the age of 18, after a long boat and train
journey, Theresia arrived to Kansas City, Missouri where she lived her with
great aunt and uncle, Anna and Alvin Schaller. They took her to the
German Club of Kansas City’s Christmas Party, where she met Ernest “Ernie”
May. Ernie, who had recently immigrated from England and originally
Romania, and Theresia were married in May of 1956. Together they built a
wonderful, successful life which included welcoming their two sons, Steve and
Reinhart “Reno”. In 1964, they started a small tool and die company
called May Tool & Mold, where Theresia did the bookkeeping and continued
sewing in the late evenings for extra income. Theresia could sew
anything, from all her families clothing to elaborate wedding dresses of her
own design. Theresia dedicated 60 years of her life to the family
business MTM. She was intelligent, had a quick wit and great sense of
humor, and was known as “Mother Theresia” to many employees, vendors, and
customers over the years. May Tool and Mold is now May Technology & Mfg.,
Inc. and is still ran by the Family today (and her extended Family from the
Shop).
Theresia also loved gardening and was an avid picker
“treasure/junk” collector. But her greatest accomplishment and joy
in life was being Mama and Oma. Theresia adored her sons Steve (Gayla)
and Reinhart “Reno” (Ronda) and her four grandchildren, Kristin (Brent)
Davidson, Erin (Daniel) Nelson, Austin (Kim), and Alexandra (David)
Friel. She was also blessed with 8 great grandchildren. Throughout her
life she loved hosting family dinners, grandkid sleepovers, hosting weekends at
her beloved lake house, telling stories of Germany, and working with her sons
and a few grandkids at the “Shop” every day. She taught her family to be
hard working, loving, appreciate finer craftsmanship, and to remember her
history in Germany. What an amazing lady, she will be greatly missed by
many!
