John Waggener

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John "Jack" Waggener, 91, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at the Lutheran Home after a brief illness.

Jack was born Aug. 17, 1925, in Gideon, Missouri, and grew up in Charleston, Missouri, where he graduated from high school before joining the U.S. Army and eventually attending and graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1948.

Jack then quickly returned to Charleston to marry his sweetheart, Mary Ella Drake, of Charleston before beginning an exciting and rewarding 33-year career as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Survivors include three sons, John (Karen) Jr. of Cape Girardeau, Drake of Telluride, Colorado, and Robert of Norwood, Colorado; a daughter, Mary of Cape Girardeau; one grandson, Peyton of Manama, Bahrain; and one granddaughter, Laura of Lexington, Virginia.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ella Waggener; a brother, Marion Waggener of Charleston; and a sister, Gerry Getty of Little Rock, Arkansas.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A family graveside service will be later that day at IOOF Cemetery in Charleston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Charleston United Methodist Church, 1700 E. Marshall St., Charleston, MO 63834, or to Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.