Rev. John Ketcher

The Rev. John "Jack" Ketcher, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital-Fenton.

He was born Oct. 12, 1935, in St. Louis to John Elmer and Charlotte Bacott Ketcher. He and Alice Faye Ketcher were married Dec. 31, 1957, in St. Louis.

John retired as a major from the Missouri Army National Guard, having served in the 35th Engineer Brigade out of Jefferson Barracks, as well as other engineering and infantry units in Missouri.

He was a United Methodist minister and served as pastor in the Missouri towns of Belleview, Caledonia, Wellsville, Middletown, Piedmont, Patterson, California, New Madrid and Poplar Bluff. He was also a chaplain at Southeast Hospital for 15 years.

In recent years, he attended La Croix Church.

Survivors include his wife, Alice Ketcher of Cape Girardeau; two sons, Bradley Ketcher of St. Louis and Owls Head, Maine, and Scott (Rebecca) Ketcher of Winter Haven, Florida; brother, Ken (Deanna) Ketcher of Paragould, Arkansas; two sisters, Rose Barr of Florissant and Mary (John) Ruskin of St. Louis; sister-in-law, Verda Minton of Katy, Texas; and seven grandchildren, Jack Ketcher, Kate (Josh Danbury-Nolan) Ketcher, Zachary Ketcher, Kelsey Ketcher, Sonya Ketcher, Elise Ketcher and Ella Ketcher.

John was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jim Ketcher.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Feb. 5, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at noon Monday, Feb. 5, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Karen Nothdurft officiating. Burial will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorial contributions may be given to Central Methodist University.

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