Bill Balsmann

William L. "Bill" Balsmann, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Uniontown, Mo., son of Ed and Josie Schott Balsmann. He and Edna L. Frizzell were married June 19, 1948, in Cape Girardeau.

Balsmann served in the U.S. Army during World War ll.

He was employed with R.B. Potashnick as a master mechanic on heavy equipment in the Pipe Line Division 43 years. He later worked for Murphy Brothers five years, retiring in 1983.

Balsmann was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, VFW Post 3838 and Elks Lodge 639.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Kim Kelley of Cobden, Ill., Linda Gieson of Wright City, Mo.; a son, Dan Balsmann of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Wilma Meyer of Daisy, Flora Robert of Cape Girardeau; three brothers, Ed Balsmann of Old Appleton, Mo., Elmer Balsmann of Perryville, Mo., Herb Balsmann of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. Parish prayers and the rosary will be at 7.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. David Hulshof officiating. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum, with full military rites by Missouri Honor Team and VFW Post 3838.