Gilbert Walther

Gilbert R. "Gib" Walther, 87, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, at his home.

He was born Oct. 14, 1922, north of Jackson, son of Ernst and Anna Dreyer Walther. He and Dorothy Krueger were married Dec. 5, 1944, at Hanover Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. She passed away May 4, 1998.

Gib was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, inducted Jan. 6, 1945, and honorably discharged Nov. 23, 1946.

He owned and operated a dairy farm north of Jackson. He was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church at Pocahontas and a member of Altenthal Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson.

Loving survivors include a daughter, Christine "Chris" Haertling and husband Stan of Jackson; two grandchildren, Anna and Brett Haertling; a special nephew, Robert Lashley and wife Dottie of Jackson, and their children, Julie and Scott Arnzen, Shelby and Jeff Spray, Amy Lashley; three sisters, Nelda McMurtry of Fenton, Mo., Meta Hunt of Jackson, and Irene Hurst of St. Louis; and a brother, Albert Walther of Jackson.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Hilda Wallman, Bertha Koeberl, Corine Lashley, Bernice Baker and Helen Rulo Thiele.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Robert Mann officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Cemetery Fund or to St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.