William Gerecke

William J. "Bill" Gerecke, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 24, 2020, at his home.

He was born Jan. 30, 1925, in Gordonville to Henry and Martha Lange Gerecke.

Bill served in the Sixth Army in World War II in the South Pacific and Philippines from 1943 to 1945. He was honorably discharged as a corporal.

He worked for and retired from Southwestern Bell.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Telephone Pioneers and the Elks.

He loved to play golf, pool, bridge and bowling. After being a golf pro, he became the VFW pool shark.

He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Bill married Elizabeth "Liz" Metje. They had four children: Robert, Douglas, Beverly and Michael. After Liz's death in 1991, he married Sue Nauert in 2001.

Survivors include his wife, Sue Gerecke of Cape Girardeau; three sons, Robert (Nancy) Gerecke of Blue Springs, Missouri, Douglas (Loretta) Gerecke of Dexter, Missouri, and Michael (Debbie) Gerecke of Columbia, Missouri; son-in-law, Willie Ervin of Cape Girardeau; Sue's four children, Jan (Ken) Bone of Polar Bluff, Missouri, Chris (Jay) Sheets of Cape Girardeau, Mark (Judy) Nauert of Whitewater and Beth (Mike) Ross of Troy, Illinois; 11 grandchildren, Rob (Tabitha) Gerecke, David Gerecke, Bryan (Mary) Gerecke, Chris (Melissa) Gerecke, Sabrina Gerecke, Samantha (Jonathan) Simpher, Mark Gerecke, Julie (Chris) Drury, Meagan (Lyle) Riggs, Jessica Allred and Abby Ervin; eight stepgrandchildren, Danny (Taryn) Bone, Sarah (Sheldon) Edmundson, Jordan (Lainey) Sheets, Emily (Garrett) Harrington, Nick Nauert, David Ross, Jeff (Chelsea) Ross and Trent (Courtney) Ross; and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Elizabeth Gerecke; a daughter, Beverly Ervin; and siblings.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. today at St. Mary's Cathedral, with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Masks are required at visitation and Mass. Burial with full military honors will be at Fairmount Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mary's Cathedral or Catholic Social Ministries Food Pantry (St. Mary's Food Pantry).

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