Donald Simpher

Donald Ray Simpher, 74, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, June 12, 2014, at Ratliff Care Center.

He was born April 2, 1940, in Cape Girardeau, son of Louis and Evelyn Lampe Simpher. He and Nina Slinkard were married Jan. 23, 1967. She passed away Dec. 26, 1991. He and Diane Howard Wiggins were married June 8, 2002.

Don grew up in Cape Girardeau and graduated from Cape Catholic High School, which is now Notre Dame Regional High School.

He served in the National Guard.

Don worked at the Southeast Missourian in the printing press department. He also worked as an assistant manager at Cousin Fred's and at Wetterau in the produce department. Don enjoyed working on bicycles and lawn mowers in his spare time, and was a collector and loved to go picking.

Loving survivors include his wife, Diane; a son, Brad (Carmen) Simpher of Jackson; a stepson Timothy Wiggins of Pocahontas; three grandchildren, Cassie, Brandon and Brody Simpher; and a brother, Robert (Janice) Simpher of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Roger Keipe officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.