J.W. Armbruster

Joseph Wilfred "Bill" Armbruster, 93, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 25, 1914, at St. Mary, Mo., son of Henry Ludwig and Philomena Wengert Armbruster. He and Mary Goldie Parres were married June 1, 1940, at Brewer, Mo., and after 66 years of marriage she preceded him in death on Sept. 17, 2006.

As a teenager, Mr. Armbruster began his career working for the local telephone company in St. Mary, which was later acquired by Southwestern Bell. Through his many years of service Mr. Armbruster grew in the ranks of the telephone company and worked for Southwestern Bell for 41 years and 41 days until his retirement in 1978.

Mr. Armbruster was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, the St. Vincent's Men's Association and a member of the Notre Dame High School Foundation's Margin for Excellence Campaign. In addition, Mr. Armbruster was an active member of the Cape Girardeau community through his membership in the Knights of Columbus organization, Telephone Pioneers of America, Modern Woodmen of America and the National Exchange Club. Mr. Armbruster had a passion for his family, the outdoors and a love of horticulture and the cultivation of plants and trees.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas Armbruster of Cape Girardeau, J. Wayne Armbruster of Paducah, Ky.; two daughters, Jerilyn Armbruster of Memphis, Tenn., M. Juan Crites of Cape Girardeau; six grandchildren, Amy Schroeder of Eureka, Mo., Mark Armbruster of Cape Girardeau, Ashley and Justin Armbruster of Paducah, Abby and Luke Crites of Cape Girardeau; two great-grandchildren, Ben and Libby Schroeder of Eureka.

Mr. Armbruster was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, a brother and a sister.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Dave Hulshof will officiate. Private burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Mo., is coordinating the arrangements.

In honor of his wife, Goldie Armbruster, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60601, or to Notre Dame Regional High School at 265 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.