Everett John “Shorty” Haefner, 94, Imperial | Obituaries

Everett John “Shorty” Haefner, 94, of Imperial died on March 25, 2021 in Bethesda Dilworth, Oakland. Mr. Haefner was retired. He joined the US Navy at the age of 17 and served during World War II from November 4, 1944 to July 23, 1946. He rejoined during the Korean War from September 4, 1951 to November 29, 1952 was Catholic and a member of St. Patrick Church in Mount Doro, Florida and St. Joseph Church in Imperial. He was a founding member of the Pastime Club in Imperial and for 75 years a member of the American Legion Post 283. He was born on February 10, 1927 in Imperial and was the son of the late Edward J. and Louisa Wuertenberg Haefner. Before him, his first wife, aged 44, died: Adeline (Govero) Haefner.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years: Marian (Govero DeClue) Haefner of St. Louis; seven children: the four he shared with Adeline: Cindy (Robert) Batchelor from Festus, Mark (Stephanie) Haefner from Imperial, Jane (Bob) Heine from Manchester and Kris (Doug) Otten from Fenton, and Marian’s three: Jill (Mike ) Albano from St. Louis, Jane (Brett) Davis from Lake Ozark, and Jeffrey (Sherry) DeClue from Indianapolis, Ind .; a brother-in-law: Fred Govero; and numerous other family members and friends.

He shared nine grandchildren with Adeline: Shane (Julie Saulka) Batchelor from St. Louis, Nicole (Woei) Lam from St. Louis, Laci (Jason) Hueffmeier from Imperial, Ryan (Jamie) Haefner from Imperial; Darren (Jenn) Haefner of Imperial, Mike (Carrie) Heine of St. Louis, Nick (Caroline) Heine of Wentzville, Amelia Otten of Fenton, and Eric Otten of Fenton; and 15 great-grandchildren: Charlie Saulka, Cooper Saulka, Maurer Lam, Bentley Lam, Quinn Hueffmeier, Reese Hueffmeier, Landon Haefner, Karson Haefner, Adeline “Addie” Haefner, Rylee Haefner, Tripp Haefner, Samantha Heine, D Heine, Connor Heine andia Heine.

With Marian he shared seven grandchildren: Elizabeth (Brian) Boles, Brian Albano, Rebecca (Kevin) Largent, Clayton DeClue, Natalie (Nick) Newman, Olivia DeClue and Carson DeClue; and four great-grandchildren: Connor Boles, Lydia Boles, Sophia Largent and Gareth Largent.

Two sisters died before him: Irma (Walter) White and Alice (Erwin) Jocklish; and two brothers: Leonard Roesch and Alvin Roesch.

The tour is held Monday, April 5, at the Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, in southern St. Louis County, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, followed by a funeral service at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Imperial, which is run by father Dan Shaughnessy. The funeral will take place in Shepherd Hills Cemetery, Barnhart. Memorials can be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6803 Old Hwy 441, Mount Dora, FL 32757; or to St. Pius X. High School, 1030 St. Pius Drive, Festus, 63028. The arrangements are made under the direction of Kutis Funeral Home.