Gerald Kaiser

Gerald "Buck" Kaiser, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, July 19, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Oct. 21, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, son of George and Geraldine Lance Kaiser. He and Lawanda Stewart were married Aug. 31, 1948, in Cape Girardeau.

Mr. Kaiser served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a member of VFW Post 3838 and Elks Lodge 639.

He attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools, Southeast Missouri State University and received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Missouri University in 1949.

He was territory and store manager for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., owner and operator of Kaiser Oil Co. and Riverside Fuel Co., and was a salesman with Consolidated Food Corp. He also owned and operated The Club, a local tavern.

Survivors include his wife, Lawanda Kaiser of Cape Girardeau; a son, Jerry Kaiser and wife Shawn of Scottsdale, Ariz., a daughter, Tara Burns and husband Jim of Neenah, Wis., a daughter, Dana Kaiser and husband Mike Gallagher of Kansas City, Mo., a son, Mark Kaiser and wife Debra of Jefferson City, Mo.; a brother, Kenneth Kaiser of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Marjorie Rister of Deerfield, Fla., Flo Lane Yard of Indian Shores, Fla.; five grandchildren, Brandon Burns, Brooke DiLandri, Addie Rachel Burns, Lauren Kaiser and Stewart Kaiser; and a great-grandchild, Sienna Isabella DiLandri.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, George Kaiser Jr.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A prayer service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cemetery, with the Rev. Charles Prost officiating. Military rites will be conducted by VFW Post 3838.

The family requests memorial contributions to VFW Post 3838.