Norman Schlegel

Norman C. Schlegel, 83, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at his home.

He was born Sept. 27, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Otto H.A. and Alma Helwege Schlegel. He and Ruth G. Seabaugh were married Nov. 10, 1945, at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Diego, Calif., by the Rev. Paul A. Hilgendorf.

Norman attended Trinity Lutheran School and Central High School, both in Cape Girardeau, and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor of science in accounting.

He was inducted into the U.S. Navy Jan. 20, 1943, and was honorably discharged Feb. 26, 1946, having attained the rank of petty officer first class in the Air Wing.

Norman worked for the former R.B. Potashnick Construction as chief accountant, where he opened and worked in offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; San Juan and Ponce, Puerto Rico; Israel; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He retired in December 1989 after 38 years with the company.

He was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Noon Shiners social group and American Legion Post 1000. He was a former member of VFW and Copper Dome Society.

Norman loved hunting, fishing and gardening and taught many children how to hunt and fish at his and Ruth's beloved home "Autumn Leaves" that was just outside of Gordonville. He worked closely with the Conservation Commission planting thousands of pine trees, multi floral roses, and sur ca lespedezas in the wildlife. It was very hard for him to leave his house of almost 50 years to move to Cape Girardeau due to ill health.

In addition to his loving wife, survivors include a daughter, Barbara (Rick) Jarvis Jr. of Lawrenceville, Ga.; two grandchildren, Richard L. (Tracy) Jarvis III of Overland Park, Kan., Paula (John) Vanden Oever of Snellville, Ga.; seven great-grandchildren; and five beloved godchildren.

Also surviving are two sisters, Lorene Sander of Jackson and Millie Strom of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Otto E. Schlegel of Norris City, Ill.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Mike Malone officiating. Military honors will follow. A private graveside service will be held at a later date in Cape County Memorial Park.

McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, Southeast Hospice, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer's Association.