Willie Sides

Willie C. "Bill" Sides, 92, formerly of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at Lutheran Senior Service at Breeze Park in St. Charles, Mo., where he resided the past two years.

He was born Aug. 18, 1914, son of the late Benjamin F. and Emilia Johanna Froemsdorf Sides. He and Viola Birk were married Sept. 4, 1938, at Tilsit. She died Nov. 9, 2005.

Bill attended Jackson High School and graduated from Wellston High School in St. Louis in 1932. As a member of the Jackson Indians Band, he marched across the old Mississippi Bridge in Cape Girardeau when it opened. He was also a member of Jackson Municipal Band many years.

In 1947, Willie and his family moved to Malden, Mo., where he helped organize, build, and manage SEMO Propane Gas Co., as well as being instrumental in the start-up of Grace Lutheran Church of Malden.

He worked for Tinsley Appliance Service from 1959 to 1968. In 1969 Bill went to work for Procter & Gamble Paper Products, retiring in 1978. For years, he has been honored as P&G's longest-living retiree.

Bill had been a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, Men's Bible Study, and was a former elder.

At the age of 75 he received a ham operator's license (N0PIO). He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and riding his bicycle.

Loving survivors include a daughter, Rena (Al) Oswald of St. Charles; two sons, Dr. Stanley (Kay) Sides of Cape Girardeau, Dr. Ron (Dotty) Sides of St. Louis; eight grandchildren, Karen Oswald, Sandra (Ben) Rufkah, Richard (Elizabeth) Oswald, David Sides, Dr. Stephen (Jenny) Sides, Emily (Aaron) Schiltz, Maria (Curt) Stokes, Russell Sides; and four great-grandchildren, Sean and Eric Oswald, William Sides, and Benjamin Schiltz.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call today from 4 to 8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, and after 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson until service time.

The funeral service will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the church, with the Rev. Robert Henrichs officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may be sent to St. Paul Radio Broadcast, Saxony Lutheran High School or American Heart Association.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.