Henry Richard Wasmer

Henry Richard Wasmer, 88 of Dallas, Texas and formerly of Murphysboro, Illinois, passed peacefully after a long battle with complications due to his diabetes, at 3:35 P.M. Thursday, December 2, 2010, at Walnut Place in Dallas, Texas. Henry was born on October 10, 1922, in Murphysboro, Illinois, to Henry Richard Wasmer and Anna Marie (Grimes) Wasmer. He attended Southern Illinois University for 3 ½ years before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Henry was a loving father of six children, grandfather of 14, great grandfather to seven, and uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. He loved hunting and fishing with his kids and grandchildren, and particularly was known for his gift of telling jokes! He loved a good laugh! While relaxing, you could usually find him watching sports; particularly football, basketball or golf. His career was as agent and then, District Manager for the Equitable Life of New York in Carbondale. However, he always said his greatest accomplishment was marrying his wife, Ruth Mary Borgsmiller, and having 6 healthy children! Mr. Wasmer was a life-long member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro, a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion Post #127, Jackson Country Club, and the Elk's Lodge, of which he was a past Exalted Ruler. Henry married Ruth Mary Borgsmiller on February 3, 1945 in Murphysboro, and she survives. Other survivors include six children, Thomas Richard Wasmer and his wife Debbie Wasmer of Birmingham, Al.; Mary Jane (Wasmer) Young and her husband Neal Young of Palm Desert, Ca. and Dallas, Texas; Gary Allan Wasmer and his wife, Mary Jean Wasmer of Chattanooga, TN.; Carol Lynn (Wasmer) Dixon and her husband Reagan Dixon of Dallas, Texas; Patricia Ann (Wasmer) Lowery and her husband John Lowery of Midland, Texas; Henry Kurt Wasmer and his wife Traci Wasmer of Abilene, Texas; his brother Eugene Wasmer and his wife, Jan Wasmer of Arlington Heights, IL; and many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers, Charles, William (Billy) and Frederick, and his sister, Mary Carolyn (Wasmer) Genovese and her husband, Tony Genovese. A funeral mass will be held at 10 A.M. on Friday, December 10th, 2010, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church with Father Gary Gummersheimer officiating and burial at St. Andrew Cemetery, where military services will be conducted by the American Legion Post #127, V.F.W. Post #7190 and 2605, and the Jackson County D.A.V. Chapter #69. Friends may call from 5 to 8 P.M. at the Pettett Funeral Home, where a prayer service will be held at 7 P.M. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church or St. Andrew Catholic School at 724 Mulberry Street, Murphysboro, IL 62966 or to the Custom Care Hospice, 2525 Centerville Road, Dallas, TX 75228.

Henry Richard Wasmer

October 10, 1922 - December 2, 2010