Ernestine Suedekum

Ernestine Sophie Suedekum, 96, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born May 27, 1909, in Dutchtown, Mo., daughter of Otto E. and Matilda Keller Eggimann. She and Theodore "Ted" O. Suedekum were married June 5, 1929, by the Rev. F. H. Melzer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. They lived on their farm between Cape Girardeau and Dutchtown until moving into an apartment in Saxony Village in 1996. He died Feb. 23, 1998. She entered the Lutheran Home in February of 2000.

Suedekum was baptized at home June 27, 1909, by the Rev. C. C. E. Brandt, and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church on March 25, 1923, by the Rev. F. H. Melzer.

She attended Broadway Elementary School and graduated from Cape Central High School. After obtaining a teaching certificate from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College, she taught for two years in the elementary school in McClure, Ill.

After her marriage she became a member of Zion Lutheran Church, south of Gordonville, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was a member of the Ladies Aid, LWML and the quilting group.

She was a former member of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, for more than fifteen years.

Loving survivors include two daughters, Marjorie Suedekum and Shirley (Stan) Popp, both of Cape Girardeau; two granddaughters, Tammy (Jerry) Jasiek of St. Louis and Lisa (John) Johnston of St. Peters; two great-grandchildren, Alex Jasiek and Madison Johnston; and two nephews, Thomas L. Underwood of Arlington, Va. and Robert E. Underwood of Riverdale, Md.

She was preceded in death by a sister.

Friends may call from noon to 1:30 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. today at the funeral home, with the Rev. Wayne Schwiesow officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Zion Lutheran Church of Trinity's Living Hope.