Alfred Vetter

Alfred George Vetter, son to George and Alvina Compas Vetter, was born July 21, 1929, in Benton and departed this life Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family at the age of 94 years.

He served honorably in the U.S. Army as a private first class from 1951 to 1953. He completed basic military training at Fort Slocam, New York. He was then stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as an education director and became proficient in Morse code. During this time, he made several lifelong friends.

He was a lifelong, self-employed farmer and was still helping out with the family farm until a few years ago. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping and gardening.

Alfred married Neva Jean Benfield on Oct. 30, 1954 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. She preceded him in death March 31, 2011.

He is survived by six children, Patricia Vetter of Cape Girardeau, Michael (Ruth) Vetter of Benton, Pamela (Steven) Fehr of Ellisville, Carolyn (Rus) Gordon of Oak Harbor, Washington, Christopher (Cheri) Vetter of Benton and Brian Vetter of Cape Girardeau; 11 grandchildren, Jeremy (Tabitha) Vetter, Nikki (Brian) Armstrong, Josh (Tanya) Hawkins, Julie (Clayton) Nuelle, Amanda Hawkins, Jamie Hawkins, Kaitlin (Garrett) Roslen, Kristen (Albert) Horn, Ian Gordon, Sean Gordon and Shane Gordon; 16 great-grandchildren, Trevor, Victoria, Ashley, Brian, Nevaeh, Emma, Justin, Henry, Isabella, Riley, Callie, Reece, Maddox, Emersyn, Aniston and Augustus; three great-great-grandchildren, Alice, Aubrey and Penelope; and a sister, Mary Todt of Cape Girardeau.

Besides his parents and wife, Alfrede was preceded in death by a brother, Vernon Vetter, and three sisters, Sister Loretta Vetter, Georgia-Anna Vetter and Rita Drury.

Visitation will be from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton. Parish prayers will be at 3:30 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, July 22, at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton, with the Rev. Daniel Belken as celebrant. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Denis Catholic School or Jesus in Disguise Food Pantry

Online condolence may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.