Edwin Kiefner

Edwin Kent Kiefner, 84, died Saturday, July 4, 2020, at The Arbors in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 7, 1935, to Edwin Luckey and Elizabeth Kent Kiefner.

Ed graduated from Perryville (Missouri) High School and then from Westminster College in 1957. He was first married to Patricia Barton Kiefner, who preceded him in death Feb. 27, 2002. He then married Luanne Lough Kiefner on Aug. 31, 2003.

Ed was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957 and served more than 30 years, including overseas duty in Okinawa, Japan, and South Korea. He retired as a colonel and served as commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion 24th Marines Reserve unit in St. Louis from 1972 to 1974.

In 1968, Ed became president of Kiefner Brothers Inc., a third-generation, family-owned construction company, retiring in 1998. During his career, he served on multiple boards, including Citizen Electric, Southeast Hospital, Chateau Girardeau, Home Trust Mercantile Bank of Perryville, Boatmen's Bank, Montgomery Bank, Perryville Industrial Development Corp., Perryville Board of Alderman, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club of Perryville and Cape Girardeau, American Legion Post 1033 and Elks Lodge of Perryville.

Of all the projects and accomplishments throughout his career, what brought him the most joy and what he was most proud of was being one of the founding members of Faith Presbyterian Church of Perryville (EPC), established in 2011 and officially recognized by the EPC in 2013. The church is located in the original Kiefner Lumber Co., where Ed's career began.

Ed had a great passion for fishing and hunting, which he enjoyed for many years with his father and passed that love down to his sons and grandchildren. His favorite saying in later life was that he had two good wives and several great dogs.

He is survived by his wife, Luanne Lough Kiefner; sons, Kent (Kathy) Kiefner, Thomas (Nancy) Kiefner and Matthew (Karla) Kiefner; as well as stepson, Barry (Sharon) Urhahn, and stepdaughter, Leigh (John Sheridan) Vosseller. He is also survived by grandchildren, Jenna Kiefner, Phillip (Nichole) Kiefner, Abby (Adam) Rowan, Joseph (Lauren) Kiefner, Blake (Hannah) Kiefner, Elizabeth Kiefner, John Kiefner, Paige (Trevor) Cook, Jacquelyn Kiefner, Madeline Urhahn, Grace Urhahn, Mikayla Vosseller and Hayden Vosseller; and great-grandchildren, Cate Kiefner, Willa Mae Kiefner and Braylan Dyer.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Faith Presbyterian Church of Perryville.

Private family service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Bruce Owens officiating. Burial, with graveside military rites provided by Missouri Honors Team, will be at Home Cemetery in Perryville.

Memorial contributions may be given to Faith Presbyterian Church of Perryville, 100 W. North St., Perryville, MO 63775, or Missouri's National Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 566, Perryville, MO 63775.

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