Vernon Compas

Vernon John Compas, 88, of Cape Girardeau died peacefully Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Chateau Girardeau.

Vernon Compas

He was born July 16, 1935, in Cape Girardeau to Leo and Clara Diebold Compas.

Vernon married the love of his life, Elwanda Macke, June 20, 1959.

He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. Vernon was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1111 and of Missouri Retired Teachers Association.

He taught for 33 years — physical education at Franklin School in Cape Girardeau and early in his career at Thebes (Illinois) Elementary School and May Greene School. He also coached basketball.

When Vernon retired from teaching, he and Elwanda worked for Day Transfer Moving Co., packing up houses for moving military members. He loved to fish and hunt and passed that on to his sons. Vernon and Elwanda spent their retirement years going on cruises all over the world.

Survivors include four sons, all from the Cape Girardeau area, Keith (Rhonda) Compas, Tim (Beverly) Compas, Jim (Penny) Compas and Kevin (Janice) Compas; daughter, Tammy (Alan) Rehm of North Port, Florida; 11 grandchildren, Jonathan (Jessica) Compas, Jordan Compas, Brandi (Leighton) Compas, Matt (Baily) Compas, Josh (Kaley) Compas, Benjamin (Hannah) Rehm, Andrew (Coree) Rehm, Christopher Rehm, Colleen (Colby) Reed, Ryan (Marissa) Compas and Tyler Compas; two stepgrandchildren, Brittany Sanders and Brandon Burnell; 10 great-grandchildren; four great-stepgrandchildren; two sisters, Clara Cruickshank of Florida and Bernice Glass of St. Louis; and a sister-in-law, Bonnie Compas of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers Leo Compas, Elmer Compas and Raymond Compas of Cape Girardeau; and three sisters, Rita Yarborough of Cape Girardeau, Betty Henley of Grayling, Michigan, and Lucille Waters of Southwell Fleet, Massachusetts.

The family wishes to thank the employees at Chateau Girardeau for taking good care of Vernon while he was there.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., with parish prayers starting at 7 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus rosary service to follow, Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

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