JOSEPH R. PINGEL SR.

BIEHLE -- Joseph R. Pingel Sr., 71, of Biehle died Friday, Sept. 4, 1998, at St. Louis University Medical Center.

He was born on April 4, 1927, at Biehle, son of Rudolph Joseph and Josephine Hotop Pingel.

He married Hilda C. Geringer on Sept. 3, 1955, at Arnold.

He had been a farmer. He was a World War II, Army veteran.

He was a member of St. Maurus Catholic Church at Biehle, the Amvets, American Legion and the Biehle Social Club.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, William J. Pingel of Minonk, Ill., Joseph R. Pingel Jr. of Brewer, Steven C. Pingel of Perryville and Edward J. Pingel of Sulphur Springs, Texas; two daughters, Deborah S. Dunham of St. Louis and Mary Ann Adams of St. Mary; seven sisters, Mildred Blechle of Biehle, Anita Ernst and Mary Kutz, both of Perryville, Elsie Tucker of St. Louis, Dorothy Ponder of French Village, Viola Amschler of Cape Girardeau and Doris Balsman of Old Appleton; 17 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, daughter, brother and sister.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville, with a parish wake at 7.

Friends also may call from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home, with a rosary at 9.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Maurus Catholic Church, with the Rev. Alphonse Hoernig officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.