William J. Gerecke

January 30, 1925 - July 24, 2020

William J. "Bill" Gerecke, 95, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri died Friday, July 24, 2020 at his home. He was born January 30, 1925 in Gordonville, Missouri to Henry and Martha Lange Gerecke. Bill served in the Army in World War II in the sixth army in the South Pacific and Philippines from 1943 to 1945. He was honorably discharged as a Cpl. He worked and retired from Southwestern Bell. He was a member of the VFW, Telephone Pioneers and BPOE (Elks). He loved to play golf, pool, bridge and bowling. After being a golf pro he became the VFW pool shark. He was a member of St. Mary Cathedral. He married Elizabeth "Liz" Metje. They had four children, Robert, Douglas, Beverly and Michael. After Liz's death in 1991, he later married Sue Nauert in 2001. Survivors include his wife, Sue Gerecke of Cape Girardeau; three sons, Robert (Nancy) Gerecke of Blue Springs, Missouri, Douglas (Loretta) Gerecke of Dexter, Missouri and Michael (Debbie) Gerecke of Columbia, Missouri; son-in-law, Willie Ervin of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Sue's four children, Jan (Ken) Bone of Polar Bluff, Missouri; Chris (Jay) Sheets of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Mark (Judy) Nauert of Whitewater, Missouri and Beth (Mike) Ross of Troy, Illinois; 11 grandchildren, Rob (Tabitha) Gerecke, David Gerecke, Bryan (Mary) Gerecke, Chris (Melissa) Gerecke, Sabrina Gerecke, Samantha (Jonathan) Simpher, Mark Gerecke, Julie (Chris) Drury, Meagan (Lyle) Riggs, Jessica Allred and Abby Ervin; eight step-grandchildren, Danny (Taryn) Bone, Sarah (Sheldon) Edmundson, Jordan (Lainey) Sheets, Emily (Garrett) Harrington, Nick Nauert, David Ross, Jeff (Chelsea) Ross and Trent (Courtney) Ross; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Elizabeth Gerecke; a daughter, Beverly Ervin; and siblings. Visitation will be 9:00 am to 11:00 am Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau Funeral Mass will be 11:30 am Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at St. Mary Cathedral with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Mask are required at visitation and mass. Burial will be at Fairmont Cemetery in Cape Girardeau, with full military honors. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mary Cathedral or Catholic Social Ministries Food Pantry (St. Mary Food Pantry). Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com. Ford & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.