Obituary of Gene Schuster

Everett "Gene" Schuster A Mass of Christian Burial for Everett "Gene" Schuster of Elsberry, MO, was held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elsberry. Father Robert Zinser officiated with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers were Bryan Hensley, Jacob Lilley, Eric Osner, Clint West, Matt Saabye and Bill Bray; honorary pallbearers were Emily West, Sariya Saabye, Heidi Osner, Amy Osner, Debbie Hensley and Marivic Bray. Mr. Schuster, 83, passed away early Saturday morning, May 28, 2005 at his home in Elsberry. Born September 28, 1921 in Bellflower, MO, he was the oldest son of the late Everett and Della Susan Howdeshell Schuster. A veteran of World War II, he served his country in the U.S. Army from January 27, 1943 until March 21, 1946. He served in the First Army under Generals Hodges and Patton as a tank driver in the European Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. He fought in the second Ardennes Offensive (the Battle of the Bulge) and the Rhine River crossing at the Remagen Bridge, earning two overseas bars, an American Theater ribbon, a European African Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with two bronze stars and a Good Conduct Medal. While still stationed in the U.S., he was united in marriage on July 6, 1944 in St. Louis, MO to Martha Lucille Geanoplos. Mr. Schuster farmed for thirty years in southern Pike County, and served on the board of the Production Credit Association. He also served on the board of the Elsberry Drainage District and held the position of secretary-treasurer for several years. During his farming career, the Schuster family was awarded Farm Family of the Year. He also drove a school bus for the Clopton School District for many years. Mr. Schuster was a member of the American Legion Post #226 and the VFW Post #9064 in Elsberry. Talented in woodworking and cabinetry, he built the freestanding bookshelves for the Palmer Memorial Library when the building was constructed in 1990 and for the youth room addition in 2000. He was a very active member of the Elsberry Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Elsberry Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Della Schuster. Survivors include his beloved wife of 60 years, Martha Schuster of Elsberry; three daughters: Becky Lilley and her husband, Steve, of Elsberry, Mary Ann Hensley and her husband, Ernie, of Elsberry, and Debby Osner and her husband, Jeff, of Lowry City, MO; their nephew who was raised as a son in their home, Bill Bray and his wife, Charlotte, of Huntington, UT; nine grandchildren: Bryan Hensley and his wife, Debbie, of Elsberry, Emily Hensley West and her husband, Clint, of O'Fallon, MO, Jacob Lilley of Miami, FL, Sariya Lilley Saabye and her husband, Matt, of Florissant, MO, Eric Osner of Lowry City, Heidi Osner of Jefferson City, MO, Amy Osner of Lowry City, and Bill Bray and Marivic Bray of Bel Air, MD; four great-grandchildren: Matthew and Nathan Hensley, and Megan and Caleb West. He also leaves one brother, Mel Schuster of New York, NY; one sister, Doris Eddy of Pueblo, CO; several in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, May 30, 2005 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Palmer Memorial Library or the Sacred Heart Outreach Fund in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.