The Rev. Walter John Keisker, 102, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001, at the Lutheran Home.
He was born July 10, 1899, at Jarvis, Mo., son of John and Magdalene Neumoeller Keisker. He and Zola Mae Fikuart were married Nov. 29, 1923, at Farmington, Mo. She died July 2, 1992.
Rev. Keisker was pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Flat River, Mo., from 1923-38. He was pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, Mo., from 1938-68, and served as pastoral assistant the next 22 years.
From 1960-73 he served as counselor for Lutheran Family and Children's Services Auxiliary of Southeast Missouri, and was instrumental in establishing the local LFCS in Cape Girardeau in 1973. He served as counselor for Cape-Jackson-Bootheel Pastoral Conference 13 years.
Rev. Keisker was a 50-year member of Jackson Chamber of Commerce, member of Cape Girardeau County Historical Society, Old Appleton Bridge Committee, and Jackson Ministerial Alliance. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, and active in the Republican Party.
He received an honorary doctor of divinity degree during the graduation exercises May 28, 1993, at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Ruth Illers of Jackson, Virginia and Fred Goodwin of Cape Girardeau; seven grandchildren, Mike Illers of Tallahassee, Fla., Mack Illers of Jackson, Marty Illers of Yonkers, N.Y., Lynda King of Jackson, Mark Goodwin of Jackson, Debbie Patterson of Caruthersville, Mo., Nancy White of Joplin, Mo.; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two brothers and four sisters.
Friends may call at St. Paul Lutheran Church from 4-8 p.m. today.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. David Johnson, the Rev. Robert Henrichs and the Rev. Earl Weiss officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery at Jackson.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Family and Children's Services or St. Paul Lutheran School Building Fund.
Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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