Raymond Hecht

Raymond Martin "Lefty" Hecht, 89, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Shawneetown, died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born May 23, 1924, in Altenburg, Mo., to Martin and Clara Weseloh Hecht. He and Helen Louise Pfeiffer were married April 24, 1949. She died May 27, 2006.

Lefty worked at Shawneetown Feed and Seed more than 20 years. He also farmed in the Longtown, Mo., area and later in Shawneetown until he retired. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, and was a member of the church's mens club and sang in the choir.

He served in the U.S. Army as an interpreter in Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland, earning four Bronze Stars.

Survivors include two sons, Tom (Kathy) Hecht of Jackson and Dennis (Donna) Hecht of Frohna, Mo.; a son-in-law, Stan Trickey of Jackson; two brothers, Elmer Hecht of Altenburg and Richard Hecht of St. Charles, Mo.; a sister, Florence Gruenwald of Altenburg; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Judy Trickey and Kathy McLendon; three brothers, Norman, Edward and Milton; three sisters, Margaret Hecht, Vivian Kranawetter and Leona Mangels.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson, and from 9 a.m. until time of service Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Virgil Kelm officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, with full military honors conducted.

Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to Missouri Veterans Home.

Online condolences may be made at cracraftmiller.com.