Reinhold Degenhardt

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Reinhold A. "Dixie" Degenhardt, 97, of Altenburg died Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville, Mo.

He was born Sept. 25, 1915, at Wittenberg, Mo., son of August G. and Mathilde S. Poppitz Degenhardt. He and Thekla Koch were married April 21, 1940. She preceded him in death Oct. 31, 1975. He and Margie Engert Johnson were married in May 1978.

Initially, Dixie farmed and was later employed as a meat cutter in Jackson. He held various leadership positions (president, elder, treasurer and trustee) at both Trinity Lutheran and Immanuel Lutheran churches in Altenburg.

He held various leadership positions with the local chapter of MFA Oil Co. He was active in Lutheran Layman's League. He served numerous years as committeeman with Perry County Republican Party.

Dixie played baseball with the Altenburg Aces in the 1940s, softball with the Trinity Lutheran team in the 1950s and dartball with the Trinity Lutheran Layman's League.

He sent food and clothing to the Degenhardt relatives in East Germany after World War II. In 1960, he brought second cousin and East German refugee Heidi Schultz-Netzer to America, provided a home for her and sent her to high school. Heidi married Albert Boettcher Jr. Dixie worked at East Perry Lumber Co. from 1967 through 1980. He continued beef cattle farming until 1990.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Larry L. and Pearline Degenhardt of St. Louis, Dewey D. and Marilyn Degenhardt of Jefferson City, Mo., Lynn J. Degenhardt of Altenburg and Dean A. and Marguerite Degenhardt of Lisle, Ill.; a daughter, Connie S. Degenhardt Levy (Griff Gresham) of Columbia, Mo.; two stepsons, Wayne and Lillette Johnson of St. Charles, Mo., and Kenneth Johnson of St. Louis; a sister, Paula Holt of Perryville; a brother, Wilmar W. Degenhardt of St. Louis; grandchildren, Grant and Christy, Ryan Degenhardt and Jeanne Aubuchon, Tyler and Sherlyn, Clay and Dori, Jennifer, Dawn, Monica and David Degenhardt, Carly, Carrie and Casie Levy, Marvin, Reina and Tiffany Johnson; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Thekla; and a brother, Edgar.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Young and Sons East Perry Chapel in Altenburg, and Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg, with the Rev. Jonathan Stites officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to United in Christ Lutheran School or Bethesda Home.