Olive Wise Spannaus, 1916-2018

Olive Adelaide Wise, the second daughter of George Franklin and Bertha Abigail Loy Wise, was born on 23 January 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri. Olive was baptized at Nelson Presbyterian Church and confirmed at age fourteen at Elim Lutheran Church in Ramona Park. She attended Laclede School for first grade, Garfield School in the Normandy district in St. Louis County for grades two and three, and Kinloch school in St. Louis County for grades four through eight. Olive won a county-wide competitive exam for a scholarship to the high school of her choice and chose Normandy High School, where she graduated as valedictorian in 1933. During her junior year, Olive played saxophone in band and orchestra, was elected to the student council, and was an advertising solicitor for the school yearbook, The Saga, where her sister, Anna Marie, was editor-in-chief.

As valedictorian, Olive earned a scholarship to Washington University. However, the scholarship was only awarded to boys, since it was believed that a college scholarship would be wasted on a girl. When Olive’s mother, Bertha, protested this injustice, Olive was then granted a half scholarship available to St. Louis residents who were descendants of Civil War Union soldiers. Olive’s grandfather, Benjamin Wise, had served three years in the 140th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

The summer after graduation, Olive worked for Shell Oil in downtown St. Louis, until she and her boss were laid off because of the Great Depression. To pay the remaining half of her Washington University tuition, Olive worked as a receptionist and file clerk in the dean’s office. She majored in English and Latin, with a minor in German. She attended for three years, until she had to leave school to care for her ailing mother.

On 23 December 1939 in St. Louis, Olive married Rev. Ruben Spannaus (1913–2006). The couple lived in California, where Olive’s husband pastored two congregations; then they moved to Seattle, Washington and Elmhurst, Illinois They had one daughter and three sons between 1940 and 1947.

Wherever she lived, Olive was an enthusiastic participant in church and community affairs. For her work advancing women’s roles in the church, serving on boards and commissions, leading protests, and presenting countless talks and education programs, she was included in the University of Illinois publication, Feminists who Changed America, 1963–1975. Olive wrote lyrics for dozens of hymns, songs, and comic spoofs. Her most well-known text, “Lord of All Nations Grant Me Grace,” a plea for universal love and understanding, was published in both Protestant and Catholic hymnals.

While living in Elmhurst, Olive served as president of the Elmhurst League of Women Voters. In Seattle, she served as First Administrative Vice President. In 1995, she received the LWV-Seattle Carrie Chapman Catt Award for the many key roles she played in civic and social movements.

In 1941, Olive wrote “So many things to be done, and I’ve wondered: Will I have enough time if I live to a hundred?” After her husband’s death, Olive lived independently until she was ninety-seven. She died on 10 May 2018, at the age of 102, in Seattle, Washington.

Written by Faith Stern
May 2025

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