Darrell “Gene” Casper, 70, of Festus died June 16, 2017, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Casper was a longtime electrician with Ozark Electric and formerly worked in the sand mines for PPG Industries in Crystal City. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Crystal City and a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program at the Twin City Senior Center. He was aVietnam War veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of Amvets Post 171, VFW Post 3777, Knights of Columbus Council 1230 and Elks Lodge 1721. Born May 14, 1947, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Virginia Ann “Chic” (Bradford) and Darrell Lee Casper. He was preceded in death by his wife: Barbara Ann (Heibel) Casper.
He is survived by two daughters: Connie M. Marshall of Festus and Christina Ann (Michael) Parker of Bentonville, Ark.; two sisters: Roseann (Jim) Swyers of Festus and Anna Hubbard of Springfield, Mo.; a brother: Joseph Casper of Texas; four grandchildren: Meghan Nicole Marshall, Trevor James Marshall, Albert John (Debra) Parker, and Mitchell Bradley (Brooke) Parker; and two great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Schuester and Kaylee Parker.
He was preceded in death by a brother: Allen Casper.
A memorial gathering is scheduled for 9 a.m. and a memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, at Sacred Heart Church, 555 Bailey Road, in Crystal City, officiated by Father Clark Maes. Burial is in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or to Amvets Post 171 Hospitalized Veterans Fund, P.O. Box 582, Festus, 63028. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.