ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Vernon "Sam" Gerler, 92, of Altenburg died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Breeze Park in St. Charles, Missouri.

He was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Altenburg, son of Martin and Emma Mueller Gerler. He and Eileen D. Steffens were married April 14, 1951. She survives in St. Charles.

Mr. Gerler was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, serving as a radar operator aboard the USS Guadalcanal aircraft carrier. He also worked for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis for 38 years, designing missile and spacecraft structures.

After retiring in 1987, he and his wife moved back to the Gerler homestead, south of Altenburg, where they joined Trinity Lutheran Church. He was an active member of the Altenburg Lions Club and The Golden Agers.

Survivors include one daughter and two sons, Connie Milner of Madison, Indiana, and Mark (Su) Gerler and Wayne (Lisa) Gerler, all of St. Charles; 10 grandchildren, Rachel, Jacob, Shauna, Timothy, Suzan, Zachary, Mickaela, Kathryn, Brianna and Tyler; and nine great-grandchildren, Samantha, Mickaela, William, Addie, Riley, Luke, Blake, Andrew and Ben.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Albert and Arnold; and one sister, Gertrude Gerler.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with Steven Dressler officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with military graveside service provided by American Legion and Navy Honor Team.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to pastor Kevin and Lakele Tetac in Papua New Guinea.

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

Young and Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Perryville, Missouri, provided the arrangements.