Catherine Showmaker

Catherine Rose Showmaker, 91, of Cape Girardeau and formerly of Charleston, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 4, 1922, in the Texas Bend community of Mississippi County, Mo., to Henry Bernard and Catherine Ann Bruenderman Duenne. She and E.J. Showmaker were married Aug. 29, 1943. He preceded her in death May 6, 1998.

Catherine had lived in Charleston most of her life until moving to Cape Girardeau in 1977. She was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Surviving are five sons, Edward Joseph Showmaker of Anna, Ill., Fred (Rosemary) Showmaker and Tom (Teresa) Showmaker of Charleston, Stephen Paul (Lisa) Showmaker of Cape Girardeau and James Richard "Jim" Showmaker of St. Louis; two daughters, Cathie (Joseph) Stricker of Belleville, Ill., and Maureen (Ronald) Brown of Edwardsville, Ill.

Also 14 grandchildren, Tim Showmaker, Matt (Tammy) Showmaker, Jeanna (Darrell) Muskopf, Danny Showmaker, Chris (Jessie) Stricker, Catie (Jim) Howell, Cari (Brad) McDill, Ryan (Salinya) Brown, Duenne (Michael) Schlarman, E.J. (Christene) Brown, Kurt Showmaker, Claire Showmaker, Hannah Showmaker and Jason Showmaker; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Charles "Kenny" Showmaker; a daughter-in-law, Norma Showmaker; three brothers, Henry, Herman and DeSales Duenne; six sisters, Sister Gertrude Duenne, Appolina "Polly" Strack, Marie Ressell, Sister Bernardine Duenne, Rosalia "Rose" Scherer and Monica Dirnberger.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Henry Catholic Church in Charleston. The Rev. Tom Kiefer, pastor at St. Mary's Cathedral, will serve as celebrant. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery near Charleston.

Pallbearers will be grandsons E.J. Brown, Matt Showmaker, Chris Stricker, Ryan Brown, Danny Showmaker, Tim Showmaker, Kurt Showmaker, Jason Showmaker and Chase Showmaker.

Memorials may be made to the Prader-Willi Syndrome Missouri Association, P.O. Box 410252, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.

Online condolences may be shared at mcmiklefuneralhome.com.