Ruston Robert Schaefer passed from this life on July 25, 2024 at the age of 84. Born September 11, 1939 to Rev. Henry H. Schaefer and Marcella M. Schaefer (nee Koeneman), he was the sixth child of thirteen.
He was baptized by his father on October 8, 1939 and confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 27, 1952. Ruston spent his entire childhood in Bourbon, MO in a large family with lots of love, activity, and excitement. He graduated from Bourbon High School on May 23, 1957, with the honor of being the senior class president. Ruston graduated from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now Missouri S&T) in Rolla, MO in January, 1962 with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army Reserve.
He was called to active duty and proudly spent two years in the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Bragg, NC during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He then spent several years in the Army Reserve until his honorable discharge in 1968. He was not called to active duty during the Vietnam War.
He married Kathleen Norma Kelpe of Cape Girardeau on June 8, 1962, and they were blessed with two daughters, Teresa Jo (Terri) and Melinda Joy (Lynn). He worked his entire career as an engineer and then as a maintenance superintendent in the electrical power plants of Union Electric Company (now Ameren) of St. Louis, MO. He retired in November 1999, and traveled extensively to as many US National Parks as he could. He finally settled in Texas on his brother Marcus’ horse farm as of July, 2008, living there 13 years. During retirement, he very much enjoyed involvement in his church, doing volunteer construction for Habitat for Humanity, and vegetable gardening. Later years of his life brought him to live near his daughter Lynn and grandsons Devin and Clay in Leavenworth, KS where he joined St. Paul Lutheran Church and continued using his love of gardening to serve others through the church’s community garden.
He is survived by his daughters Terri (Bill) Menchak and Lynn VanVelzer; grandchildren Jessica Menchak, Cassandra (Jake) Feldt, Devin Lampen, Clayton Lampen; brothers Martin (Michelle) Schaefer, Marcus (Donna) Schaefer and Daniel (Lonnie) Schaefer; sisters Jo Ann Zuberbier, Mary (Richard) Meyer, and Lucinda (Bob) Saeger; sisters-in-law Betty Schaefer, Phyllis Schaefer; brother-in-law Ron Meyer; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his former wife Kathleen Schaefer, brothers Rev. Henry L. (Marilyn) Schaefer, Charles Schaefer, David Schaefer, sisters Jeanerette Meyer, Marcie (Larry) K. Bruning, and Ruth J. Lambert, and brother-in-law Orlan Zuberbier.