Richard Desselman

Charles “Richard” Desselman

Charles “Richard” Desselman 86, of Kirksville, MO passed away Sunday, April 12, 2015, at Northeast Regional Medical Center.

The son of Charles B. and Anita H. (Bartels) Desselman Richard was born on September 14, 1928 in Farmington, MO. He was united in marriage to Alice “Betty” Louise Brunson on September 12, 1953 in St. Louis, MO. Betty preceded him in death on December 5, 2008.

Also preceding Richard in death were his parents.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Susan Schlueter and her husband, Richard, of Kirksville, MO and one granddaughter, Mikaela Schlueter of Kirksville, MO; one niece, Andrea Lawless and her husband Richard, of Columbia, MO and their children, Thomas, Max, and Katherine; dear family friend, Julie Blum, of Kirksville, MO; his Wednesday Senior Circle Bridge Club, and his Arbors Assisted Living family where he has lived and received the most loving care since 2008.

Richard graduated from Blewett High School, in St. Louis MO, in 1946 playing baseball and basketball for Mt. Calvary Church. Upon graduation, he worked for Warwick Typographers, in St. Louis MO, as an apprentice until joining the Navy and entering the Korean War in 1950. Richard was honorably discharged in 1952. His Captain, from the USS Collett, offered him a commission to the Naval Academy after Richard saved his fellow crewmembers from certain death by taking control of the bridge and navigating the Collett out of harm’s way in Japan. Richard declined the honor and returned to civilian life working again at Warwick Typographers eventually receiving promotion to Vice President of Sales. Richard was offered a job at the St. Louis area journal newspapers where he was the printing plant manager and the management representative to the Printer’s Union. He was President of CRD, Inc., a printing brokerage firm, until his retirement in 1994 when Richard and Betty moved to Kirksville, MO.

Richard spent his lifetime fishing at Montauk State Park in search of the elusive “lunker.” He created original fly rods and tied his own flies with each being a work of art. Richard was a woodworker, cabinetmaker, and carpenter. He was able to build any piece of furniture or renovate any structure. Richard was a landscaper, and during the summers his passion was working in the yard on the most beautiful lawn in the neighborhood. Richard was an assistant coach for his daughter’s Khoury League softball team in St. Louis, Mo. winning multiple championships.

Richard was a member and past President of the Advertising Club of St. Louis; a member of the VFW, Kirksville Senior Circle member; and a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Kirksville, Mo.

Visitation with the family will be at 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Faith Lutheran Church. Pastor David Lukefahr will officiate with Jeannie Anderson serving as organist. A private internment will follow at a later date at the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery in Jacksonville, MO.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested to Faith Lutheran School or family choice.