Linus Edward Huck

On the morning of Sept. 4, 2001, at his home in Commerce, Linus Edward Huck, retired Mississippi riverboat captain, sat down at his big easy chair and died. He was 86 years old. The son of George W. and Ilma Baumstark Huck, he was born at Crystal City, Mo., on Feb. 9, 1915. Having married Ann Alice Foster, daughter of C.C. "Hibbs" and Flora Rasberry Foster, on Oct. 3, 1936, at Fairfield, Ill., Bud, as he was known to friends, settled down to first Big Island, and then shortly afterwards, to Commerce, where he had a family and lived his life.

His professional life was spent on the rivers of the Midwest, where he worked for 55 years. Beginning river life as a waiter on a quarter boat, he studied and passed exams to receive license to pilot all the navigable rivers of this country and he quickly became the captain of his own boat and crew. Well known and active on the river, Mr. Huck was equally so in his hometown. At Commerce he was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, and mayor of the town from 1964 until 1969. When the Masonic Lodge closed at Commerce, he became a member of the Masonic Lodge 672 in Cape Girardeau, and later of the Capaha Scottish Rite Club of Southeast Missouri.

Preceded in death by a brother, Cletus, He is survived by a sister, George Bequette, of Crystal City. In his immediate family, Mr. Huck is survived by his wife, Anna, and his children, Dr. Bud Huck and his wife, Rebecca, of Fruitland; Dr. Lois Lee Huck and her husband, Dr. John Ramsey, of Commerce, and by Dr. George Ann Huck of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, and Commerce. A niece Marilyn Ruth Foster Davis, and her husband, Arthur, of Georgia also survive, as do the grandchildren, John Matthew Ramsey of Des Moines, Iowa, and Flora Ann Ramsey Khosravi and her husband, Dr. Farshid Khosravi, of St. Louis, and Martha Ann Huck and Nathan Huck of Fruitland.

Funeral services were held at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City, Mo., at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, 2001, with the Rev. Larry Lawman from St. Paul Methodist Church officiating. Burial was at Oakdale Cemetery near Commerce. Pallbearers for the service were Mr. Huck's four grandchildren listed above, and two especially close family friends, Glenda Rae Beardslee, of Scott City, and Ronald Goddard of Cape Girardeau.