Statler Family Obituaries
Biester, Melvin Henry
Melvin H. Biester, 84, of Jackson, passed away Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.
He was born November 3, 1928, in Tilsit, to Henry W. and Faye B. Philipps. He and Lorene M. Fluegge were married December 10, 1950, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. They had been married nearly 40 years when Lorene passed away October 3, 1990.
Melvin served honorably in the U.S. Army from January 19, 1951 to January 18, 1953. He was a 50-year member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson.
He was employed 28 years at the former Schaper’s IGA Foodliner in Jackson, where he worked his way up from bagger / carry-out to manager of the meat department. From 1972 to 1992, he was employed at the former Wetterau Foods in Scott City, working as a meat inspector and buyer.
In 1961, Melvin transferred his membership from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. In addition to serving on various church committees, he served as a Sunday School teacher, usher, and worked with the youth.
Loving survivors include four children, Ronald (Judy) Biester of Cape Girardeau, Larry (Charleen) Biester and Deborah (Randy) Blankenship all of Jackson, Karen Bergfield (fiancee Kent Ladig) of St. Louis; seven grandchildren, Justin Biester (fiancee, Christy Brown Owens), Josh (Kyla) Biester, Lana Koeppel, Laura Biester, Staff Sgt Derek Blankenship of Lajes Field Azores, Amy (Michael) Wallace, Chris Bergfield; four great-grandchildren, Kaydan Biester, Gabriel Koeppel, Sam Miller, Ashley Wallace; and three siblings, J. G. (Judy) Biester and Alberta (Leroy) Wilke all of Cape Girardeau, and Millicent Fluegge of Jackson.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Bob Bergfield; and a sister, Elvira Best.
Friends may call Thursday, August 29, 2013, from 4 to 8 PM, at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. An American Legion Honor Guard Service will be held at 7 PM.
The funeral will be Friday, August 30, 2013, at 11 AM, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Robert Henrichs officiating.
Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with full military honors.
Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home, the American Cancer Society, or St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Printed in the Thursday, August 29, 2013 edition of the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, MO
©2013 by David Statler of StatlerWeb