Bill Kitchen

Bill Joe Kitchen, 77, of Cape Girardeau went to meet his lord Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at Southeast Hospital.

He was born Sept. 2, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, to Paul and Pearl Kneibert Kitchen. He and Nina J. Ratliff were married Sept. 14, 1952. She preceded him in death June 13, 1995. Bill married Betty Morrison Oct. 10, 1998.

Bill was a devoted minister 45 years, spending the last 16 years as pastor of the Church of God in Cape Girardeau. He was a former construction worker with BIS (formerly Fru-Con), and a meat butcher at Central Packing. He was a board member of Craftsman Independent Union 28 years. He loved his family and especially spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Kitchen of McClure, Ill.; two sons, Joe (Teresa) Kitchen and Randy (Lori McDonald) Kitchen of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Darlene (Ed) Serandos of Cape Girardeau; two stepsons, Mike (Patricia) Coleson of Mill Creek, Ill., Wayne (Laura) Coleson of McClure; two stepdaughters, Brenda Harvell of Wickliffe, Ky., Gail (Johnny) Ryan of Metropolis, Ill.; three brothers, Gene Kitchen of Chicago, Doug and Larry Kitchen of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Jo Ann (Sam) Blattel of Cape Girardeau; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; 12 great-stepgrandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by brothers Jake, Paul Jr. and Sam Kitchen; and a stepdaughter, Marilyn Kaufman.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Roger Centers and David McNeely officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Church of God Building Fund, 209 E. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

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