GENE CASPER

COBDEN, Ill. -- H.E. "Gene" Casper, 84, of Cobden died Friday, April 13, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 29, 1917, at Cobden, son of Walter C. and Minnie Humphrey Casper.

He and Ruth Alene Hardin were married July 8, 1950, at Anna, Ill.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army 6th Infantry Division from June 10, 1941, to Nov. 10, 1945. He received numerous medals, including a Bronze Star and Victory Medal. He was a member, past treasurer and commander of the Cobden American Legion Post 259, past district American Legion commander in Illinois and a member of the Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 of the VFW in Anna.

He also was a member of the Jackson-Union Counties 40/8 Club, the DAV of Jackson County and was a past aide-de-camp of Du Illinois and past chef-de-gare of the 40/8.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cobden. He was a licensed plumber and retired from the Union County Housing Authority as supervisor of maintenance.

Survivors include his wife and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and five brothers.

Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Monday at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden.

Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Congregational Church in Cobden, with the Revs. Clifford Heil and Wallace Casper officiating. Burial will be in the Cobden Cemetery with graveside military honors.