Cletus Elmer "Clete" Heidbreder

Cletus Elmer "Clete" Heidbreder, age 95, of Lohman, passed away unexpectedly Friday morning, May 1, 2015 at his home.
He was born February 23, 1920, on the family farm in Lohman, a son of Henry and Louise Hutschreider Heidbreder. He was baptized March 14, 1920 and confirmed May 6, 1934, at St. John's Lutheran Church-Stringtown. The confirmation verse chosen was Revelations 3:11, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
On April 14, 1951, Clete was united in marriage to Ethel Scheperle in the Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage in Springfield, Missouri. Ethel survives at their home.
He was a Navy veteran, serving his country in World War II from 1942-1946 on the Liberty ships during the invasion of Leyte Bay in Philippines and also throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
As a young man Clete worked for the local MFA driving the gas truck for several years. For twenty-five years he was employed with the Missouri Department of Transportation and retired from the Jefferson City Public School district after driving a school bus for twenty-eight years.
He was a lifelong, active and faithful member of the St. John's Lutheran Church - Stringtown, where he held various offices throughout the years.
Clete was a charter member of the Lohman Lions Club, served for more than twenty-five years on the Farmers Bank of Lohman board, was Treasurer of the German Mutual Insurance Company for 45 years, and had been a leader of the Lohman 4-H club. He was a life member of VFW Post 1003 in Jefferson City, serving in the Honor Guard as bugler for many years and very active in Operation Bugle Boy. Clete also had the privilege of being a member of the first Honor Flight from Mid-Missouri in May of 2009.
January 23, 2002, was a proud day for Clete. It was on that date Clete obtained the diploma he would have received with his graduating class of 1939, if he would not have withdrawn from high school to serve his country in World War II. The Cole County R-I School District presented him with his Honorary High School Diploma during a ceremony at the high school in Russellville.
Clete's motto for living was "Love your church, love America, love everybody and never throw a day away."
In addition to his wife of 64 years, he is survived by two children and their spouses, Keith and Joy Heidbreder of Lohman and Kimberly and Keith Hickey of Columbia; four grandchildren, Kristen Heidbreder, Cheryl Hickey and friend Steve Cucullu, Erik Heidbreder and wife Heather, and Kara Waters and husband John , one great-grandson, Landon Heidbreder, along with other relatives and many friends.
Clete was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Arthur, Wilburn, Omar, Darwin, Henry, Jr., and Rudolf, a sister who died in infancy and a granddaughter, Tara Michelle Heidbreder.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at St. John's Lutheran Church-Stringtown with Pastors Jacob Mueller and Warren Brandt officiating. Interment, with military honors, will be in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery-Stringtown.
The family will receive friends from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at St. John's Lutheran Church-Stringtown. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Cemetery-Stringtown or the charity of the donor's choosing.

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