Gordon Kenneth Colbert, affectionately known as Ken, passed away on Saturday, July 6, at his home in Defiance. He was born on January 20, 1930, the son of Kenneth and Elza (Royster) Colbert.
He was one of seven children born to Kenneth and Elza. Ken served in the U.S. Army 45th Infantry during the Korean War. He married Norma Mertz on January 12, 1963; they were married 44 years before her passing on September 10, 2007. He later married Beverly Keller on August 10, 2013. Ken was an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in New Melle, a member of Knights of Columbus, and a 45-year member of New Melle VFW Post 5651. He worked for 24 years at Mississippi Valley Steel and worked 19 years at the New Melle VFW Post 5651. Ken enjoyed all sports; he loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Blues, and Mizzou football and basketball. He also enjoyed reading about military history and was an avid newspaper connoisseur, along with the occasional morel mushroom hunt.
Ken is survived by his wife, Beverly Colbert of Defiance; daughter-in-law, Becky Colbert (her late husband, Gordie Colbert) of New Melle, and their children, Lance and Austin (Nicole), his sons, Mike (Elizabeth) Colbert of Wright City, and their children, Joey, Annabeth, and Evangelene and Wes (Kelly) Colbert of Wright City, and their children, Kayla and Carson; sister, Lois Schneider of New Hartford; step-son, David (Mary) Keller of Florissant, and their children, Danielle (Cameron) and Brandon (Melissa), step-daughter, Cheryl Morrison of Wright City, and her daughter Kathleen (Billy) Barnes and their child, Maelah, step-daughter, Kerry (Philip) Earl of Wright City, and their children, Kaylee Schnieders and Carly (Dan) McGillivray and their child Bruce, and Patrick (Jazmyn) Earl and their child Everest, and Teresa (Dave) Jones of Bellflower, and their child, Justin (Dana) Reese and child, Reese. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Norma Colbert, sons Shawn and Gordie Colbert, grandson, Michael Colbert, Jr., siblings, William “Gene” Colbert, Bernice McManus, Muriel Grote, Louise Mudd, and Everett Colbert.
A visitation will be held on Friday, July 12, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pitman Funeral Home in Wentzville. The funeral will be Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, New Melle. Burial to follow at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery in New Melle. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:Wreaths Across America, New Melle VFW Post 5651, American Suicide Prevention Foundation, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in care of Pitman Funeral Home.
