Harry Joseph Scherder
Harry Joseph Scherder, 84, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 in the comfort of his own home in Bowling Green.
Per his wishes, there will be no visitation. He will be cremated and a funeral mass will be held Friday at 5 p.m., at St. Clement Catholic Church with the Rev. Jason T. Doke, S.T.L. officiating. Burial will take place immediately following at the St. Clement Cemetery.
Harry was born Feb. 1, 1933 at his family home on Crow Lane to Frederick William and Eleanor Elizabeth Orf Scherder. He was the youngest of five boys. At the age of four and due to his mother’s illness, he attended Crow School with his brothers. He later attended St. Clement School, graduating from Bowling Green High School in 1950.
After graduation, he farmed with his father before serving in the 6th Infantry Division of the United States Army in 1954-55. After his military service, he returned to farming and partnered with his brother, Jim.
On Nov. 28, 1959 he was united in marriage to Joyce Ann Edelen, daughter of Henry Cecil and Jessie Nichols Edelen at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Millwood.
Harry was a member of St. Clement Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed his farm, baseball, bowling, the St. Louis Cardinals and Knights of Columbus activities.
He was a quiet, faith-filled man with simple needs but had an endless love for faith, farming, and family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He played pinochle and participated in many Knights of Columbus tournaments where he prided himself for being a frequent tournament finalist. In recent years he enjoyed Monday night pitch games at the VFW.
In 2010, he proudly accepted a Missouri Century Farm award. He moved to town in 2009 after living 76 years in the home in which he was born.
In 2016, his children honored his love of farming and passion for keeping young men and women on the family farm by creating the Scherder Brothers Agricultural Scholarship which is awarded annually to a Pike County High School graduate who attends college in pursuit of an agricultural related degree.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years; his children, Kenneth Scherder and Angie Barton of Bowling Green, Ellen Stanko and husband, Mark, St. Louis, Kevin Scherder and wife, Lisa, Bowling Green, and Barbara Goetz and husband, Steven, Mason City, Iowa. Grandchildren, Jenna Sharamitaro and husband, Joe, Leah Kemlage and husband, Andrew, and Ryan Stanko, all of St Louis; Kyle Scherder and wife, Olivia, Bowling Green, Katie Scherder and Kelsey Scherder, Fulton, Casey Goetz and wife, Jenna, Coralville, Iowa, Emily Goetz, Iowa City, Iowa, and Sawyer Goetz, Mason City, Iowa. Great-grandchildren, Michael, McKenzie and Mabrey Sharamitaro; Bodie Kemlage, and Sally Ann Scherder. He is also survived by in-laws, Laura Scherder and Jo Ann Scherder, Bud Edelen, Virginia Morse and husband, Richard, Madonna Sue Uhlin and husband, Steve, Jeanne Bishop and husband, Cliff, and Luda Edelen and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Ray, Al, Cyril and Jim Scherder.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Scherder Brothers Agricultural Scholarship, St. Clement Knights of Columbus, St. Clement Catholic Church, or Pike County Hospice.
