Donald F. Schuette Sr., 87, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
The oldest of three sons, Don was born Feb. 19, 1937, in Millersville to Fred and Lucille Kistner Schuette. He and Nancy Whitledge were married Sept. 8, 1956.
He attended grade school in Millersville and was a 1954 graduate of Jackson High School. He honorably served two years in the Missouri National Guard and then honorably served in the U.S. Army from Aug. 9, 1956, to June 10, 1958.
Don worked more than 32 years for Southwestern Bell, retiring in 1990 as a supervisor, but his lifelong passion was farming. In recent years, he row-cropped, but he previously raised and sold cattle and horses.
He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren on the farm, especially taking them on tractor rides. His other hobbies included hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
Don was a member of Cape County Cowboy Church and was a former member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson and Fruitland United Methodist Church.
To cherish his memory, Don leaves his wife of 67 years, Nancy Schuette of Jackson; four children, Donna (James) Turner of Imperial, Debra (Robert) Borcherding of St. John’s, Florida, and Donald F. (Donna) Schuette Jr. and Dana Schuette, both of Jackson; six grandchildren, Tara (Sam) Jarvis, Sierra (Jason) Rhea, Nicolette (Erik) Siebert, Robert (Jenna) Borcherding II, Lauren Schuette (Robert Martin) and Hunter (Nicole) Schuette; 11 great-grandchildren, Autumn, Tristan, Bryce, Landon, Savanna, Charleston, Luke, Rocky, Weston, Annie and Whitley; two brothers, Jerry (Janet) Schuette of Jackson and Tom (Shawna) Steele of Garner, Kansas; a brother-in-law, Gary (the late Sandy) Whitledge of Jackson; a sister-in-law, Velma (the late Lloyd) Whitledge; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Monday, April 29, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.
The Rev. Jim Matthews will conduct the funeral at 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, at the funeral home. Military honors and interment will follow at Apple Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Pocahontas.
If considering a memorial contribution, the family suggests St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Honor Flight Network.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Don’s obituary article at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.