Reuben Fritzler

Reuben Alexander Fritzler, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 1, 2011, at Southeast Hospital.

He was born Dec. 5, 1921, in Kimball, Neb., to Peter and Elizabeth Grauberger Frohm Fritzler. He and Emalyn T. Schmidt were married June 9, 1946, in White, S.D., and recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.

They were blessed with two children, Steven (Marilyn) Fritzler of Cape Girardeau, Gary Fritzler of Cordova, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Joshua (Jessica) Fritzler of Shepherdsville, Ky., Rachel Fritzler of Dallas, Jonathan (Melissa) Fritzler of Cape Girardeau, Daniel Fritzler of Las Vegas; and a brother, Carl Fritzler of Wasilla, Alaska.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 11 brothers and sisters; two grandchildren, Adam and Clara Fritzler; and their mother, Lois Fritzler.

Reuben was a World War II Army veteran and served with the 836th Engineer Aviation Battalion in the South Pacific.

Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Kimball and worked for a short time in his uncle's dairy business as well as with Union Pacific Railroad out of Cheyenne, Wyo.

He graduated from barber school in 1951 and worked for Kelso Barber Shop in Kimball until he purchased the business and building in 1962 and opened Reuben's Barber Shop. He continued to operate the shop until he retired in 2001 after 50 years in the same location.

Reuben spent 30 years as Kimball County Veterans Service officer and assisted hundreds of veterans and their families with health care and military funeral arrangements.

He served as Jaycee president, was a life member of VFW, a member of American Legion, Kimball Cemetery Board, and, most importantly to him, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Kimball where he served in all leadership positions. He was instrumental in starting Sunday school at the church and was heavily involved in the construction of the new St. John's Church building in 1956. He and his wife are members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel.

The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the church, with full military honors by Missouri Honor Team. Burial will be at a later date in Kimball Cemetery in Kimball.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome. com.