Earl Balsman

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Earl Theodore Balsman, 96, of Perryville died Nov. 28, 2014, at Independence Care Center in Perryville.

He was born Jan. 16, 1918, in Perry County, Missouri, son of William L. and Emma B. Kirn Balsman. He married Anna Maudell Lukefahr on May 12, 1945, in Highland, Missouri. She preceded him in death in 2006.

Earl was a self-employed house painter.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church as well as the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 1292. He was also a member of the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Booster Club. He was an avid fisherman.

Survivors include one son, Roger Balsman of Perryville; one daughter, Madonna Snelson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; one granddaughter, Melinda Snelson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and two sisters, Marcella Franklin and Irma Brown, both of Perryville.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, two brothers and three sisters.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Gathering Space of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Milton Ryan, CM will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to the St. Vincent school system.

Miller Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.