Jerome Scherer

Jerome J. Scherer, 85, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born July 20, 1922, near Benton, Mo., son of Victor and Pauline Welter Scherer. He and Rosalia Duenne were married Jan. 22, 1944, in Charleston, Mo.

Raised near Benton, Jerome was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and a 1942 graduate of Wentzville High School in Wentzville, Mo. On Jan. 1, 1943, he was inducted into the Army Air Force where he served as a blacksmith and an aircraft welder during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant Feb. 19, 1946.

He worked for the former Missouri Utilities Co. from 1950 until his retirement from AmerenUE in 1985. He served 30 years in the Police Reserve for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, and was a member and past commander of American Legion Post 63.

Jerome was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Loving survivors include his wife, Rosalia of Cape Girardeau; three sons, Dennis (Sharon) Scherer and David Scherer (Sue Byrd), all of Cape Girardeau, Dale (Eliza) Scherer of St. Louis; four daughters, Delores (Terry) Deck of Vicksburg, Miss., Dorothy (Dennis) Clark of Louisville, Ky., Darlene (Joe) Bullinger of Jackson, Dianne (Tom) Redman of Allen, Texas; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Gregory Scherer of Benton; three sisters, Mary Ann Scheffer and Geneva Dirnberger of Benton, Wilma Martin of Advance, Mo.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Donna Rose Scherer; and two brothers, Jordan and Ralph Scherer.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Tom Kiefer will lead parish prayers at 5:30, with the rosary immediately following led by Sister Lucille Zerr.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Cathedral, with the Rev. Kiefer officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery with graveside military honors by Delta Team and Cape Girardeau VFW.

The family suggests memorials to American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau, St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, or a charity of your choice.