Theresia May

1937 - 2025

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!

Theresia is preceded in death by her husband Ernest May and companion Pete Osterreich.

A private, family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Theresia May, to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/.