Charles Herbst

Charles J. Herbst, 69, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, at home following a lengthy illness.

He was born Sept. 18, 1939, in Cape Girardeau, son of Charles J. and Dorothy M. Schwab Herbst Sr. He and Judie Dannenmueller were married July 8, 1961, at Benton, Mo.

Mr. Herbst was a 1961 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. From 1970 to 1978, he worked for Drury Companies. From 1978 to the present, he owned and operated Charles J. Herbst Architects with longtime associate Brian Balsmann.

He was a member of Old St. Vincent Catholic Church, Elks Lodge No. 639 and Capaha Antique Car Club, in which he was past president and served as chairman of the annual Indoor Swapmeet for 35 years. He was also a member of the Missouri ARC Board at VIP Industries and a member of the Architects of Southern Missouri.

Mr. Herbst enjoyed bluegrass music, traveling to festivals and spending time at his barn/museum working on his antique cars and antique tractor. His favorite places were Mountain View, Ark., and Branson/Silver Dollar City.

Survivors include his wife and mother, both of Cape Girardeau; two sons, Charles J. (Sydney) Herbst III of Cape Girardeau and Douglas B. (Carol) Herbst of Annapolis, Mo.; two brothers, Robert Herbst of Cape Girardeau and James Herbst of Naples, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Erin, Allyson, Taylor, Travis and Claire Herbst of Cape Girardeau, Tara Eudy of Cape Coral, Fla., and Amanda Herbst of Cape Girardeau; a stepgrandson, Brian McFadden of Annapolis, Mo.; and two great-grandchildren, Rylen Eudy and Alexis McFadden.

He was preceded in death by his father.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Old St. Vincent Catholic Church with Msgr. Richard Rolwing and the Rev. Tom Kiefer officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Pallbearers will be Dean Reeves, Duane Statler, John Boos, Rick Palen, Randy Palen and Mark Palen.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.