Leo Schulte

Leo W. Schulte, 89, of Jackson died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Jan. 30, 1924, near Dutchtown to John H. and Alma Job Schulte Sr. He and Sarah Westerhold were married May 11, 1946, at the rectory of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson.

Leo was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked many years on the family dairy farm southwest of Jackson, and then worked 32 years at the Natural Gas Pipeline near Burfordville, retiring in 1986. 

Leo was faithful to Christ through his lifelong church membership at Immaculate Conception Church. He was supportive in many of the church's ministries and was always humbled to be asked to help. In recent years, he helped the office staff fold service bulletins.

He was a third-degree Knight of the Bishop-Timon Council and a member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion, both in Jackson.

Leo loved being with his family. He especially enjoyed fishing and gardening, and was proficient at woodworking.

Loving survivors include his wife of 66 years, Sarah of Jackson; five children, Mary (Steve) Blackman, Kathryn (Robert) Summers, Tom (Pam) Schulte, Linda (Ron) Martin and Susie (Robert) Rafferty, all of Jackson; 11 grandchildren, Tammy, Brad, Sami, Brett, Trent, Amanda, Patrick, Suzanne, Natalie, Landon and Janna; 13 great-grandchildren and another expected next May; and a sister, Helen Stroud-Jones of Gulfport, Miss.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson. Deacon Walter Biri will lead parish prayers at 7 p.m., immediately followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary. Visitation will continue from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church. Celebrants will be Father John Harth, Monsignor Edward Eftink and Monsignor William Stanton. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Pallbearers will be Leo's five grandsons and his godson, Steve. Honorary pallbearers are Leo's fellow co-workers from the Natural Gas Pipeline and their wives.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Immaculate Conception Church or School Building Fund.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.