John Freeze Jr.

John Henry Freeze Jr., 81, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004, at his home.

He was born March 22, 1923, at Benton, Mo., son of John Henry and Minnie C. Burger Freeze. He and Patricia Chappue were married Nov. 28, 1948, in Piggott, Ark. She died in January 1987. He and Marcella Steinbecker were married Jan. 18, 1992, at Sereno, Mo.

Mr. Freeze played football at Southeast Missouri State University, where he graduated in 1947.

He was an engineer with Burlington Northern Railroad 42 years, retiring in 1992. He had a contracting business from 1962 to 1987. His biggest projects included Lakeview Estates Subdivision and Collegewood Apartments.

Mr. Freeze served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Reserves, and saw active duty during World War II and the Korean Conflict.

He was a member of Old St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, SEMO Booster Club, VFW, Elks and Abe's Boys.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Dr. John M. (Martha) Freeze of Cape Girardeau; four daughters, Cathy (Rick) Chandler of Richmond, Va., Pam (David) Dawson of Bethalto, Ill., Missy (Dr. Matthew) Janzow of Victoria, Texas, and Linda (John) Wells of Cape Girardeau.

Also surviving are six stepdaughters, Vickie (Mark) L'Hote, Debbie (David) Balsman, Nancy (Tom) Guth, Cindy (Mark) Rollet, all of Perryville, Mo., Gloria (Myron) Cramer of Annapolis, Md., Kathie (Fred) Dana of St. Louis; 27 grandchildren; and eight great-stepgrandchildren.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Parish prayers will be at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Old St. Vincent's Church, with Monsignor Richard Rolwing officiating. Military honors will be conducted by Mason Yarbrough Detachment 1081 of the U.S. Marine Corps League. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Family members will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Russell, Bill Schott, Rolf Svedburg, Ed Migielicz, Charles Vickery and Jack Behrens.

Memorials may be made to Old St. Vincent's Church.