Richard Weber

KELSO, Mo. -- Richard Fred "Dick" Weber Sr., 79, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Kelso, died Friday, March 5, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, after being admitted there from the Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born April 4, 1930, in Fornfelt, Mo. (now Scott City), son of George L. and Olivia Strack Weber.

He graduated from Fornfelt High School in 1947.

As a teenager, he worked for Dode Bollinger's grocery store in Scott City and learned the skills of a meat butcher. As a young adult he worked and managed his own grocery and meat shop. He entered the military service in 1951 and received army training at Camp Chaffee, Ark. He served in the front lines of the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1953, attaining the rank of sergeant first class. He was awarded the Bronze Star and was honorably discharged. He then served in the Army Reserve for several years, worked for the Cottonbelt Railroad and obtained an A.A. degree in electronics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Later he completed real estate school and sold real estate in the Belleville, Ill., area.

He worked for Bill's Radio & TV in O'Fallon, Ill., and for Gill's TV in Fairview Heights, Ill. In 1964, he bought a television repair shop in East St. Louis, Ill., moved it to Kelso, Mo., and began Weber Radio & TV, changing the name later to Weber TV & Appliance. Along with his wife and children he operated stores in Scott City and Cape Girardeau before retiring in May 2005. His business was a member of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. From 1965 to1968 he worked at Marquette Cement Plant as well (later known as Lone Star).

He was a member of Scott City VFW Post 6407, a member and past president of the Scott City Kiwanis Club, one of the founding members and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 6420 in Scott City and the 4th Degree member of St. Joseph Assembly 2283. He served on the building committee of the current St. Augustine School.

His hobbies included organic gardening and making homemade wine.

On April 21, 1951, he married Mary Ann Ressel, daughter of O.J. and Lorene Schlosser Ressel of rural Illmo (now rural Scott City), at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso. She died July 15, 1993.

They have three children who survive; Richard (Charlene) Weber Jr. and Janie Slaten, both of Kelso, and Carol (William "Bill") Morrow of Jackson. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Alan R.Weber, Chad and Brett Slaten, Jessica (Travis "Chuck") Sexton and Amanda (Travis) Bruenderman; and two sisters and their spouses, Lorita and Raymond Hamilton of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Kathlean and Jerry "Pug" Drury of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a brother, Bernard Weber; two sisters, Theresa Weber and Mary Ann Lottes; brothers and sisters-in-law Dennis Lottes, Otis "Hokie" and Gertrude Williams, Jimmy and Lee Jones and Larry Stevens.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Parish prayers will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday followed by a Knights of Columbus service.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, with Fr. Oliver Clavin officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with full military honors.