Howard Leo Aufrecht Obituary (1918 - 2015)

Howard Leo Aufrecht, 97, of Murphysboro, formerly of Blue Mound, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 12:05 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015, at Moweaqua Nursing & Retirement Center. Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2015, at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Blue Mound, with visitation one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hall Cemetery near Blue Mound with full military rites provided by Macon County Honor Guard. Memorial contributions may be directed to Safe Haven Hospice. Howard Leo Aufrecht was born on February 8, 1918, in Stonington, the son of Godfrey Jacob and Neta Aline (Marshall) Aufrecht, the youngest of four children. His parents farmed in the Old Stonington area in Christian County. His grandparents, Johann Adam and Louise Dorothea (Brohe) Aufrecht, had settled in Christian County, bought land and farmed after immigrating to America from Wurttemberg, Germany in 1865. Mr. Aufrecht served his country in the U.S. Army in World War II. He served as a carpenter for General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines. He was involved in the Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II, the invasion of the Gulf of Leyte in the Philippines by American forces and Filipino guerrillas under the command of General MacArthur. He also spent time in Australia. When Mr. Aufrecht returned from the war, he owned and operated Bekenmar Church Furniture Company in Blue Mound, with his wife, Vera, and his family until retirement in 1993. Howard had great skill and craftsmanship in his woodworking, and his talents were sought after by many in the area for not only church furniture but also home furnishings, cabinets and wainscoting around organ pipes at the front of churches. His church furnishings and woodworking can still be seen in churches throughout the Midwest. Mr. Aufrecht professed faith in Christ, and he was influenced by the teachings of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana. He joined the Blue Mound Church of God where he met Vera Adeline Pace. They were married on December 25, 1938, at the Blue Mound Church of God, where they were active and faithful participants for all of their married life. They had six children together. She preceded him in death on May 18, 1992. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together. He then married Mary Smith Anderson on May 22, 1993, in Murphysboro. She preceded him in death on September 24, 2014. They enjoyed 21 years of marriage together. They attended the Christ Community Church in Murphysboro. Howard was always known for his soft-spoken, gentle and kind spirit and great sense of humor. He was a dedicated, hard worker in business and in the church. He enjoyed his and his wife Mary's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who all brought great joy to him. Survivors include his sons Bevin, of Decatur, Kent (Ruth) of Decatur, Mark (Diana) of Christiansburg, Virginia, daughters, Doris (Dan) Middleton of Assumption, Brenda (Gary) Miller of Catlin, 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Four stepchildren, 10 step grandchildren and 24 step great-grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Carl Aufrecht, sisters Alice Aufrecht and Pearl Barlow, wife Vera, daughter Sharon, granddaughter Annie Aufrecht and wife Mary. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.