Wilfred Billmeyer

Wilfred "Bill" Billmeyer, 91, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, March 16, 2018, at Southeast Hospital.

He was born Sept. 25, 1926, to Louis and Vera Billmeyer and lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He attended Eau Claire High School and Minneapolis Business College.

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served in World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Bill married his wife of 53 years, Leona Jo-Ann Houk, Oct. 28, 1954, in St. Louis.

He was the proud father of son Craig (Mary) Billmeyer of Cape Girardeau; daughter Kathy Womack (Matthes) of Jacksonville, Florida, and son Todd (Amelia) Billmeyer of St. Louis; grandfather of Angela (Jose) Cavazos, Andrew Billmeyer, Anthony Billmeyer, Allison Billmeyer, Amy Womack and Alex Womack; and great-grandfather of Jack and Max Cavazos.

When Bill was in high school, he spent summers in Priest River, Idaho, fighting fires and blister rust in the Coeur d'Alene National Forest.

When Bill returned from proudly serving his country in 1946, he finished high school and graduated with his class and attended Minneapolis Business College. Bill worked as a life insurance agent until his retirement in May 1991, after 37 years in the insurance business.

When Bill was not at work, he spent countless hours tending to his garden with particular love of butterflies, roses and flowers. His favorite past-time was following his beloved Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers.

In 2012, Bill returned to Missouri from Jacksonville and moved to the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He continued to enjoy his love for flowers and gardening at the Veterans Home and made every effort to help new residents adjust to their new home. Bill's genuine concern for others blossomed into many new friendships with residents, volunteers and staff.

Per his wishes, his body was donated for medical research.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon April 7 at LaCroix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

A memorial service will follow at noon, with the Rev. Ron Watts officiating. Burial will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation in Cape Girardeau or a charity of choice.​

This announcement is courtesy of Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Cape Girardeau.

To leave online condolences for the family, please visit www.crainsonline.com.