Herman Ressel

ORAN, Mo. -- Herman Joe Ressel, 75, of Oran passed away Thursday, July 29, 2010, at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born June 17, 1935, at Charleston, Mo., to Roman J. and Marie E. Duenne Ressel. He and Doris E. Wills of Charleston were married Nov. 24, 1955.

Ressel graduated from Oran High School in 1953 and attended Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.

He became a journeyman printer for several newspapers such as Southeast Missourian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Globe Democrat. He owned and operated Mississippi County Oil Co. in Charleston from 1957 through 1961. He and his wife owned and operated H&D Health Supplies at Town Plaza in Cape Girardeau and were distributors of Shaklee Products 36 years. They traveled extensively around the world representing the Shaklee Corp.

In 1984 he built, owned and operated Ressel's Self-Service in Oran until 1994. He and his sons operated Ressel Home Builders in Oran and were in the home rental business. It has become a family business, and therefore Herman never retired.

He was a member of Guardian Angel Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Sodality, a charter member of Knights of Columbus Council 4311 and former member of Oran Lions Club.

Herman's favorite pastimes were outings with his family, camping, boating at Kentucky Lake, fishing and hunting with his sons and watching his grandchildren compete in athletic events. He loved playing the piano, singing and watching Cardinal baseball.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Bob (Terri) Ressel and Steve (Amy) Ressel of Oran, Dany (Robin) Ressel of Springfield, Mo., Ben (Misty) Ressel of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Mary Jo Ressel and Sheri (Terry) Holmes of Oran; two sisters, Rose Ann (Charles) Scherer of Benton, Mo., Luella (Billy Wayne) Kern of New Hamburg, Mo.; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Romana Hulshof, Marilyn Barge and Rita Ressel.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran. Parish prayers will be at 7, followed by KC prayer service at 7:15.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Guardian Angel Church, with Monsignor Richard Rolwing officiating and the Rev. Randy Tochtrop concelebrating. Burial will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery.