John W. “Gebe” Kite, 73, of Festus died Jan. 17, 2022, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Kite was a U.S. Army veteran and worked as a general foreman at the De Soto Union Pacific Car Shops. He was a graduate of St. Joachim School, a member of Elks Lodge 689 and a volunteer with the De Soto PAC Credit Union for 44 years. He enjoyed traveling, fantasy football, shooting pool, playing craps, making jelly, canning pickles and fishing. Born Sept. 15, 1948, in Bliss, he was the son of the late Tharrell and Margaret (DeClue) Kite.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years: Karen (Christopher) Kite of Festus; two children: Melissa (Kirk) Thebeau of De Soto and Elliot (Judy) Kite of St. Louis County; three stepchildren: Brenda (Danny) Chotrow of Festus, Robert “Bobby” (Amy) Lowe of Wood River, Ill., and Jamie (James) Bell of St. Louis; four siblings: LaDonna Kite of Farmington, Debra Kite of Cadet, Dennis Kite of Dennison, Texas, and Steve Kite of De Soto; 11 grandchildren: Caleb Canepari, Colin Canepari, Jack Kite, Annie Kite, Alex (Cheyenne) Chotrow, DJ Chotrow, Becca Chotrow, Chloe Chotrow, Sammy Lowe, Jackson Lowe and McKayla Bell; five great-grandchildren: Presley, Nolan, Westley, Evie and Elijah, with another on the way; and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother: David “Doc” Kite.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., in De Soto. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the funeral home. Burial is in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to either the Tanner Boynton Scholarship Fund or the De Soto Car Shop Adopt-a-Family program, both at the De Soto Mo Pac Credit Union, 2082 Rock Road, De Soto, 63020. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.