Jerome L. Bretthorst

Jerome L. Bretthorst of Ashland died Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at Ashland Healthcare. He was 81.
Mr. Bretthorst was born Oct. 25, 1926, in Columbia to Edward and Helen (Sinderman) Bretthorst. He married Delia LaDene Bennett on July 10, 1948, in Columbia, and she died earlier. He married Virginia Wren on Nov. 9, 1996, in Ashland.
Mr. Bretthorst served in the Navy and worked as a carpenter at MU until retirement. He was a member of Woodcrest Primitive Baptist Church, the Ashland Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a 50-year member of the Ashland American Legion Post 152. He also sold Christmas trees at his farm in Ashland.
He is survived by his wife; four sons, Danny Bretthorst of Bonaire, Ga,, Joe Bretthorst of Hartsburg, Brent Wren of Moberly and Roland Wren of Ashland; four daughters, Jeri Bretthorst and Karla Lenger, both of Ashland, and Alvera Doerge and Angie George, both of Hallsville; a brother, Bill Bretthorst of Columbia; a sister, Peggy Smith of St. Charles; 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
A brother and a sister died earlier.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd., Ashland. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Woodcrest Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; or to Woodcrest Cemetery.

Robinson Funeral Home

-- Marylyn Simpson