David Woeltje

David Wesley Woeltje, 64, of Jackson passed away Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, after a long illness.

Born March 4, 1953, in Cape Girardeau to Glenn and Rosanna Fallert Woeltje, he was the youngest of three children.

He graduated from Jackson High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University.

On Oct. 1, 1988, David married Julia "Julie" Gerstner. They had a son, Adam, and had been married nearly 28 years when Julie passed away Aug. 31, 2016.

As a young child, David was creative, artistic, curious and often self-taught as he experimented with pursuits that interested him. At 12, he taught himself to play the guitar; at 17, he began a lifelong joy in painting with watercolors; and when he was 19, he opened Midway Auto Body, which he owned and operated until retirement. Following his dad's footsteps, his skills and high standards earned him recognition as an artisan, one of the best body and fender craftsmen in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area.

Loving survivors include his son, Adam Woeltje of Jackson; two siblings, Deanna (Jim) Long of Jackson and Dennis Woeltje and wife, Sheryl Smith, of Cape Girardeau; nephews, Mike (Lori) Woeltje, Dusty (Kara) Woeltje and John (Jeanne) Long; and a niece, Brenda (John) Long-Sharp.

He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

The family invites friends to a life celebration reception at noon Sunday at the American Legion Hall in Cape Girardeau.

Donations to help finance Adam's ongoing education and college expenses are welcomed. Please make checks payable to Deanna Long.

Announcement was by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.