Arnold Wachter

Arnold H. "Arnie" Wachter, 87, of Jackson passed away Thursday, March 19, 2015, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born April 6, 1927, in New Wells, to Charles B. and Hilda Richter Wachter. He and Verna Bingenheimer were married April 19, 1952, at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown, Missouri.

Arnie was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, and graduated from the former Immanuel Lutheran School.

He worked on the family farm near New Wells until he entered the U.S. Navy on Aug. 2, 1945. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre during World War II and was honorably discharged July 17, 1946.

Arnie worked several years at the former Gerhardt Construction Co. in Cape Girardeau. Through his membership in the former Local 282 in Cape Girardeau, he then worked for other construction companies. In 1983 he became employed in the maintenance department of Southeast Hospital, retiring in 1997.

After their marriage in 1952, Arnie and Verna became active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, where he was an elder, trustee, and served on several other committees, including the finance board. He was also a member of Altenthal-

Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson.

Arnie loved farming, was an excellent gardener and truly enjoyed sharing his vegetables with friends.

Loving survivors include his wife of nearly 63 years, Verna of Jackson; two children, Nancy (Clint) Collier and Steve (Becky) Wachter of Jackson; two granddaughters, Landon Wachter of Columbia, Missouri, and Paden Wachter of St. Louis; three siblings, Roland (Dorothy) Wachter of Lemay, Missouri, Florence Hafner of Hammett, California, and Pauline (Bill) Nitsch of Sedgewickville, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Lavern (the late Eugene) Wachter of Jackson and Lorene (the late Reinhold "Buddy") Wachter of Belleville, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews.

All services are at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Monday.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Church or School or Saxony Lutheran High School.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.