Betty Schuessler

Betty Schuessler, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center after suffering a fractured hip followed by a stroke and other health issues.

She was born Jan. 13, 1938, in Altenburg, Mo., daughter of Herb and Stella Fiedler Dreyer, who preceded her in death.

Betty was baptized and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church until 1958. She attended Altenburg High School two years and graduated from Perryville High School as valedictorian in 1956.

She and Richard Schuessler were married Aug. 9, 1958, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. She traveled with him during a four-year tour with the USAF. In 1962 they moved to Bucks County, Pa., and lived in Levittown 47 years before moving to Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau in July 2009.

After their children reached school age, Betty worked and held various secretarial positions, and then for 15 years worked at Betz Labs in Trevose, Pa., as a library assistant/administrative clerk typist, followed by human resources assistant/senior secretary/records secretary.

Betty retired in 2000 and enjoyed interior decorating, plays, concerts, flower gardening, traveling and most of all playing pinochle with friends in Pennsylvania and Saxony Village. She was a serious St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and watched many games on TV.

For many years in Pennsylvania she was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church in Levittown and then St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Croydon. After moving to Cape Girardeau she became a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel and sang in the choir.

She is survived by her husband; two sons and five grandchildren, son Dan Schuessler and wife Mary K. of Baton Rouge, La., and their four children, Abbey, Evan, Ashton and Yuto, and son Randy Schuessler and wife Julie of San Antonio and their son David; two sisters, Millie Diehl and husband Jim, Ruth Leigh and husband Joe, all of St. Louis; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gene and Dorothy Schuessler of Cape Girardeau; brother-in-law, Charles Franke of Uniontown, Mo.; 11 nieces and nephews, including Debbie Gross, Gary Schuessler and Deanna Niederkorn of Cape Girardeau.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, with the Rev. Barry Pfanstiel officiating. Following a luncheon at the church, burial will be at 5 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in Altenburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Building Debt Reduction Fund at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, 1904 W. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

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