Robert “Bob” Mayer of Dexter passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 after a short battle with Covid-19.
He was born on October 15, 1931 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Norman and Irene Mayer. He married his high school, sweetheart, Ruth Esther Worley on January 12, 1951, and found happiness again when he married his second wife, Betty Sue Garner on February 18, 2012. He adored family, farming, cattle, onions, the St. Louis Cardinals, and old westerns. He led a full and active social life, including standing coffee with buddies at Burger King and McDonald’s, Wednesday night gatherings with friends at Pizza Hut, and lunch and bingo at the Dexter Senior Center. Always a jokester, anytime he was asked what he was up to, Bob predictably responded, “About five foot, three.”
He spent his career farming. Bob was active in his community serving as deacon and elder of First Christian Church and on the boards of Southeast Missouri Raney Farm, Southeast Coop, local MFA, and Stoddard County Soil and Conservation. He was also a proud member of the Missouri National Guard for 12 years.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Mayer of Dexter; his daughter, Susan Bartlett of Cape Girardeau; a grandson, Robb Bartlett (Amanda) of Cape Girardeau; a granddaughter, Leigh Havelick (Dave) of Portland, Oregon; and four great grandchildren, Abe, Gus, Ben, and Addison. He is preceded in death by his parents, identical twin brother, Richard, and his first wife, Ruth.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Friday, May 29, 2020 at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.
A graveside service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. at Dexter Cemetery with Rev. Mike Williams officiating.
The family asks that masks be worn out of respect to fellow attendees.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 295, Dexter, MO, 63841.
Pansy Leona Zimmerman, daughter of the late Wilburn “Wid” Raybron and Julia Self Raybron was born in Evansville, Indiana on March 19, 1926 and departed this life at her residence in Bernie, Missouri on May 19, 2020 at the age of 94.
Mrs. Zimmerman was a homemaker and a member of Bernie Church of Christ.
She was united in marriage to Melvin Eugene Zimmerman in Malden, Missouri on July 15, 1942. Mr. Zimmerman preceded his wife in death on May 3, 2013.
Other survivors include one son, Mike Zimmerman & fiance Brenda Beal of Metropolis, Illinois; by two daughters, Sharon Durham & husband Kenneth of Bernie, Missouri and Judy Watkins of Ludowici, Georgia; by one daughter-in-law, Loretta Zimmerman of Bernie, Missouri; by thirteen grandchildren,twenty four Great-grandchildren and one Great-great-grandson; also by other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents and her husband, by two sons, Darrell Zimmerman and Roger Zimmerman; by one sister, Violet Smith; by one grandson, Daniel Zimmerman.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in BERNIE, Missouri on Friday Morning, May 22, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted at 11:00 A.M. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel with Stan Dauck officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
Robbie Leroy Pennebaker III, son of the late Robbie Leroy Pennebaker Jr. and Sharon Cain Lawson, was born on May 27, 1977, in Farmington, Missouri and departed this life on May 18, 2020 at Southeast Health of Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 42 years.
Mr. Pennebaker was a truck driver for Jim Gibson Trucking and a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.
He was united in marriage to Brooke Bader on May 30, 2015, in Bloomfield, Missouri.
He is survived by his wife, Brooke Pennebaker of Bloomfield; by two sons, Zachary Pennebaker of Advance, and Nathan Pennebaker of Bloomfield; by two daughters, Kalleigh Pennebaker of Bloomfield, and Paislee Pennebaker of Bloomfield; by four brothers, Adam Pennebaker of Bloomfield, Eric Pennebaker of Bloomfield, Mark Pennebaker of Jackson, and Stacy Pennebaker of Daisy; by his sister, Alana Haertling of Oak Ridge; by his paternal grandparents, Robbie Pennebaker Sr. and Minnie Pennebaker of Daisy; by his step-mom, Lee Anne Pennebaker of Daisy; by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Jeri Bader of Bloomfield; and by his mother-in-law, Shelly Young of Bloomfield.
A memorial service will be planned for a later date.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
John William “Bill” Wheeler, son of the late Lawrence Wheeler and Mary White Wheeler, was born on March 25, 1927, in Centerville, Iowa and departed this life on May 17, 2020 at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 93 years.
Mr. Wheeler lived in Green City, Iowa until he was eight years of age, when his father, a Methodist minister, moved the family to St. Louis, Missouri. He attended McKinley High School and played in the High School Band.
Bill enlisted in the United States Navy and served his first tour with intentions of re-enlisting until he met the love of his life and married Anita Bell Wallen on April 17, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Wheeler preceded him in death on December 25, 2007.
Bill has been a member of the Dexter community since 1975. He was the owner of Bill Wheeler Meats. He was an active member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter, where he sang in the choir and he was a lifetime member of the Dexter Lions Club.
He is survived by his son, John William Wheeler Jr. and wife Eloise of Birch Bay, Washington; by four daughters, Jo Ann Balven and husband Glenn of Wright City, Missouri, Dorothea Schmidt and husband Steven of Dexter, Missouri, Robin Jane Wheeler of Springfield, Missouri, and Tracy Craft and husband Kevin of Bernie, Missouri; by his son-in-law, Wayne Klobe of Ferguson, Missouri; by thirteen grandchildren, Jason, Christy, Raquel, Rocky, Johnathan, Stephanie, Christopher, Mary Beth, Jeremy, Nathaniel, Nena, Gannon, and Conner; and by sixteen great-grandchildren.
Other than by his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Elizabeth Klobe; and by two sisters, Dorothea Bante and Betty White.
A memorial service will be planned for a later date.
Memorials may be made in honor of Bill to the Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter or a charity of choice.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Josephine Koch Hueckel, daughter of the late Joseph Koch and Edith Berry Koch, was born on December 23, 1928, in Dudley, Missouri and departed this life on May 18, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 91 years.
Mrs. Hueckel was a member of the First Christian Church in Dexter. She was a homemaker, enjoyed working on the family farm, and was a resident of rural Dexter.
She was united in marriage to Newby “Bud” Hueckel on September 3, 1949, in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Hueckel preceded her in death on April 24, 2009.
She is survived by two daughters, Rita Speight and husband Larry of Dexter and Mary Lynn Green of Bernie; and by two grandchildren, Sarah Moore and Dustin Ward.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons-in-law, Steve Ward and Rod Green; by two brothers, Frank Koch and Ervel Koch; and by her sister, Violet Pickett.
A private, family only, funeral service will be conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, May 21, 2020 with Rev. Mike Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Funeral services may be viewed via webcast at mathisfuneralhomes.com or on the Mathis Funeral Home Facebook page.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, PO Box 295, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or the Bernie United Methodist Church, PO Box 850, Bernie, Missouri 63822.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
