Fred Scheper Jr.

Fred Scheper Jr., 77, of Jackson, a loving husband, father, grandfather and Jackson businessman, passed away Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 27, 1933, in Jackson, son of Frederick W. and Lula McClard Scheper. He and Dorothy Gloth were married March 14, 1953, at Whitewater.

Fred served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict as a medic in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1955, returning to his family in Jackson.

He was a mechanic by trade. There wasn't anything he couldn't fix. He started his career at the former Summer's Sporting Goods in Cape Girardeau, where he worked on boat motors, motorcycles and guns. From Summer's, he went to Weiser Motor Co. in Cape Girardeau, where he retired in 1988.

In 1980 Fred, Dorothy, daughter Cathy and son-in-law Mike opened S and S Florist and Greenhouse in Jackson.

Fred enjoyed meeting people from everywhere and especially delivering flowers and making people happy. Fred was a member of the former Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Patrol. The sheriff's patrol started the first rural fire service in Cape Girardeau County around 1959. Fred was appointed as fire chief for the new department and remained as chief with the sheriff's patrol until it was dismantled.

Loving survivors include his wife of 57 years; a daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Mike Schemel of Jackson; a grandson, Michael (Laura) Schemel Jr. of Jackson; a great-grandson, Colton Schemel; a sister, Fern (Lloyd) McElroy of Cape Girardeau; and a brother, Clayton (Kathy) Scheper of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter; and a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Gladys Scheper.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating.

Pallbearers will be his grandson, Michael Schemel, and former members of the sheriff's patrol. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery, with full military honors.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.