Eggimann remembered as advocate for Cape

~ The former city council member died Wednesday at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Richard "Butch" Eggimann was described by many as a wonderful Christian, father, husband and advocate for bettering Cape Girardeau.

The 77-year-old former Cape Girardeau City Council member died Wednesday at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He served two four-year terms from 1994 to 2002.

"I was deeply saddened by the passing of Butch. He was one of my mentors, and I owe a debt to him that I can never repay," said Jay Purcell, who served one term on the city council with Eggimann. "He worked hard and was always an advocate for bettering Cape Girardeau."

City manager Doug Leslie, who was the public works director during Eggimann's tenure, said Eggimann's interests included improving city streets and street lights. He was also concerned with cleaning up neighborhoods and was influential in the city's transportation trust fund project, Leslie said.

"He wanted the city to look well kept and neat. He made sure the city enforced mowing rules and regulations," said Al Spradling III, former Cape Girardeau mayor.

Eggimann served as a council member for Ward 6, but Spradling said "he looked out for everyone" in the city.

Purcell described Eggimann as a "fiscally conservative" council member. "He was always interested in the budgets and watched the numbers very closely," Purcell said.

The former council member was also a retired educator and served as a teacher, principal and superintendent of Kelly, Meadow Heights and Kelso school districts.

Kelso seventh-grade teacher Debra Nenninger said Eggimann hired her in 1976. He served as Kelso's superintendent for about 10 years, Nenninger said.

"He was a good guy, a good leader. He was very well-liked and was always concerned with what became of our lives after he left," she said. "He was very active and would always attend the students' sporting events."

Eggimann was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and was also a pianist with the Jerry Ford Band.

He is survived by his wife, Joan, and his two children, Patrick Eggimann and Amy Beechem.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246