Gus Preusser

Gustav Benjamin "Gus" Preusser, 95, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 20, 1922, in Shawneetown to Otto Reinhold and Hattie Eva Hemmann Preusser. He and Virgie E. Steinborn Villhard were married Aug. 10, 1974, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. They had been married 38 years when Virgie passed away April 4, 2013.

Gus was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. He attended Lutheran grade schools in Shawneetown, St. Louis and Pocahontas. He was a 1941 graduate of Jackson High School.

After graduation, he helped farm the family farm and worked at St. Louis Tool and Die Casting. In 1954, he joined two other partners and built Shawneetown Feed and Seed, located at the junction of Highway 61 and State Route CC/Shawneetown Road. He helped manage the company for 36 years.

Gus has been a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church since 1974, and was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown. He served as the church secretary at Trinity and was active in the Men's Club of both congregations. He was active in the former local Lutheran Men's Dart Ball League and was a sponsor of The Lutheran Hour. He was an avid Cardinal Baseball fan.

Loving survivors include four sisters-in-law, Viola (the late Oscar) Preusser of St. Louis, Marian (the late Nelson) Preusser of Shawneetown, Ruby (the late Norman) Preusser of Jackson, and Viola Buck, of St. Louis; numerous nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Leona (Charles) Rich; three brothers, Oscar, Nelson and Norman Preusser.

Visitation is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral is at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, with the Rev. Joshua Schmidt officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Saxony High School or the donor's choice of church or charity.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

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