Obituary of Vernon William Burkemper

A Mass of Christian Burial for Vernon William Burkemper of Old Monroe, MO will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church near Old Monroe.  Father Richard Rath, church pastor, and Msgr. Gregory Schmidt, will officiate with burial in Immaculate Conception Cemetery near Old Monroe.  Serving as pallbearers will be Logan Crossfield, Jeff Patton, Lance Menne, Jon Lee, Eric Ohlms and Kyle Hawkins.  Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Herbert and Russell Gnade.

        
Mr. Burkemper, 86, passed away Monday afternoon, September 3, 2018 at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital in St. Peters, MO.  Born February 2, 1932 in Old Monroe, he was the son of Leonard and Wilhelmina Burkemper.  Vernon served his country in the United States Army from September 11, 1952 until he was honorably discharged on September 10, 1954.  Vernon was united in marriage on September 10, 1955 in Old Monroe to Mary Cecilia Anthony.  This union was blessed with five children: Howard, Matthew, Christina, Amy and Rebecca.  He worked as a carpenter for Vatterott Construction, Givens & Rowles Construction, and the Rowles Company retiring in 1993.  Vernon was a member of St. Louis Carpenters Union Local #1987 and American Legion Post #420.  Vernon was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

           
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Wilhelmina Burkemper; and one brother, Gerald “Jake” Burkemper.

           
Survivors include his beloved wife of nearly 63 years, Mary Burkemper, of Old Monroe; their children: Howard Burkemper of St. Charles, MO, Matthew Burkemper and his wife, Shannon, of Elsberry, MO, Christina  Sturm and her husband, Keith, of Winfield, MO, Amy Schwent and her husband, Jerry, of Old Monroe, and Rebecca Crossfield and her husband, Jeff, of Old Monroe.  Vernon also leaves ten grandchildren: Jessica Hawkins, Jennifer Patton, Melissa Pitman, Deanna Ohlms, Angela Menne, Ellyse Lee, Kayla Schwent, and Megan, Marisa and Logan Crossfield; and sixteen great-grandchildren: Triston, Wyatt, Dean, Carter, Tanner, Cooper, Asher, Trenton, Macy, Zander, Dominic, Ella, Devin, Isabella, Christopher and Anna.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Building Fund (or) Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389.