William Bohnert

William Clyde "Bill" Bohnert, 83, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at Chateau Girardeau, with his family by his side.

He was born Sept. 29, 1941, in Cape Girardeau to Clyde August and Catherine Alfreda Miller Bohnert.

Bill met his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Frances Heisserer, on the steps of Cape Catholic High, now Notre Dame Regional High School. He graduated in 1960 and went on to attend Southeast Missouri State University. Bill and Carolyn were married Nov. 3, 1962, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.

He served six years in the Missouri Army National Guard 140th Infantry, with basic training at Fort Leonard Wood.

Bill’s career started with Superior Electric Co., then on to the HVAC refrigeration world, which included N.O. Nelson Co., Jaymac Equipment Co., National Temperature Control Centers (NTCC), managing their Cape store for 30-plus years, and he then became a sales representative for Cape Winair Co. until his retirement.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish, being very committed to his Catholic faith and beliefs. He always made sure to pass on those convictions to his family and lived by example.

Bill was also a member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 1111 and the American Legion Association.

Bill was a very devoted and loving husband to Carolyn, an amazing and loving dad to Jeff, Tammy and Lindsay, grandpa to six grandchildren and a great-grandpa to three great-grandchildren. His love was always shown in his smile and calm demeanor. He always had wonderful advice and made us feel that everything would work out the way it should.

He loved talking sports, but his real passion was baseball, starting at the age of 6, working his way from Little League, all the way to a signed professional contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Although he was the last man to get cut during spring training in Florida, he went on to play semi-pro ball for the Cape Capahas, Jackson Giants, Altenburg Aces, Jackson Braves and Chaffee Red Wings. He was a heck of a player both as a pitcher and shortstop. Many of his fellow teammates, even today, remember not being able to hit his overhand curve ball, and how fast his fast ball actually was. As recognition for his accomplishments, he was inducted into the Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and the Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame. American Legion Post No. 63 even retired his jersey to honor him for his many years of coaching.

Bill loved to coach. He started by coaching Jeff’s Little League baseball teams up through American Legion. Then while coaching the Cape Ford and Sons Post No. 63 American Senior Legion Baseball team, of which he was a fixture for 37 years, he helped lead them to district, zone and state championships and the regional runner-up in 1994. He felt baseball gave him so much over the years, and it was only fair to give something back. His expertise did not stop with baseball. He brought his love of coaching to the rest of his family as well. He also assisted Lindsay with figure skating for many years and always had expert sideline advice for his grandkids. He was a special coach and mentor to many people through the years, hoping to teach them the value of teamwork and self-contribution and how that translates into the real world.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Bohnert of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Tammy (Mark) Gottschalk of Huntington Beach, California, and Lindsay (Lucas) Bingaman of Cape Girardeau; daughter-in-law, Tammy J. Bohnert of Cape Girardeau; sister, Patricia (Robert) Compas of Cape Girardeau; sister-in-law, Tad Bohnert of Corydon, Indiana; six grandchildren, Haley (Tony) Spencer, Brooke (Alex) Heuring, Taylor Gottschalk, Jonathan Gottschalk, Deklan Bingaman and Sloan Bingaman; and three great-grandchildren, Lottie and Glavin Spencer and Hollis Heuring.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jeffrey William Bohnert; and brother, Ronald Bohnert.

The family would like to especially thank all the doctors, nurses and aides from Saint Francis Medical Center and Chateau Girardeau for all the love and care given to Bill this past year.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m., followed by Knights of Columbus rosary.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Rick Jones officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Jeffrey Bohnert Athletic Endowment Fund at Notre Dame Regional High School or St. Vincent DePaul Parish.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Southeast Missourian