Statler Family Obituaries
Grojean, Charles Kasper, Sr.
NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- Charles Kasper Grojean Sr., 86, of New Hamburg died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.
He was born Dec. 12, 1919, in New Hamburg, a son of Theon C. and Ida Menz Grojean. On Aug. 14, 1942, in La Mesa, Calif., he married Erma J. Dumey, who survives of the home.
Grojean was a stock, dairy and row crop farmer on the New Hamburg farm, which has been in the family for more than 130 years. He was an agent for Scott County Mutual Insurance Co. for 49 years and was elected to the organization`s board of directors, serving as vice president at the time of his retirement in 2003. He served on the board of Scott-New Madrid Rural Electric Cooperative for 38 years, retiring in 1998. He held officer positions on the board and helped with multiple projects to improve the delivery of electrical services to the district`s patrons.
Grojean was a lifelong active member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, New Hamburg, serving on many church committees, including Parish Council. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 1111, Cape Girardeau, for more than 60 years. He was a member of the Kelso C-7 School Board in New Hamburg for 27 years. He joined the Army National Guard in the late 1930s. He served in World War II and was based at La Mesa, Calif., and later at Mineral Wells, Texas. He played clarinet in the 140th Infantry Marching Band and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Throughout his life he received numerous recognitions and awards for his professional and community activities, including the A.C. Burrows Service Award from the Missouri Association of Electric Cooperatives. He was most proud of his 64-year marriage to his wife, Erma, and the achievements of his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, survivors include five sons, Charles K. (Mary) Grojean Jr. of New Hamburg, Michael (Beverly) Grojean of Manchester, Mo., Randall Grojean Sr. of San Antonio, Texas, David (Sheri) Grojean of San Antonio, Chris (Sherri) Grojean of New Hamburg; three daughters, Patricia (Eugene F.) McDonald of Jackson, Sheila (Carl) Eftink of Sikeston, Lisa (Tim) Church of Sedalia, Mo.; three sisters, Sybilla Cresap of Advance, Mo., Corona "Topsy" Kelpe of Cape Girardeau, Rita Staebel of Kelso, Mo.; a brother, Francis Grojean of Cape Girardeau; 23 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Caroline Grojean, Rose Heisserer, Bertha Schwartz, Marie Clinton; a brother, Theon Grojean Jr., and a granddaughter, Sheila Elizabeth Eftink.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, with the Rev. Normand Varone officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel, Chaffee, Mo. Burial with full military rites will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery, New Hamburg.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Keith Grojean, Jeremy Grojean, James McDonald, Randy Joe Grojean, Jacob Grojean and Josh Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to a special project for St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Printed in the Sunday, September 24, 2006 edition of the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, MO.
©2012 by David Statler of StatlerWeb