Wilbur Cecil Faust

Wilbur Cecil Faust, age 85, of rural Freeburg, departed this life on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in the Missouri Veterans Home, St. James. He was born on August 20, 1932, at Dexter, Iowa, a son of Oscar and Lulu (Thraikill) Faust. Mr. Faust was united in marriage on April 2, 1966, in the state of Iowa, to the former Miss Elizabeth Gertrude Simons, and to this union, two daughters were born. He was baptized into the Catholic faith early in life while living in Iowa and was currently attending the Holy Family Catholic Church in Freeburg. Mr. Faust's favorite pastime was gardening, flowers - especially Iris, and hummingbirds. During his working life, he was employed by the Thorpe Well Company, Des Moines and Ankeny, Iowa, for 16 years, and after moving to Missouri in 1987, was employed in the Lake of the Ozarks area and later at the Quaker Window Products Company, Freeburg, for 10 years, prior to his retirement in 2012. On January 31, 1952, at Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Faust entered into active federal service in United States Air Force and served until January 30, 1956, when he was honorably discharged at the Headquarters, 343rd Fighter Group (ADEF), Duluth Municipal Airport, Duluth, Minnesota, at the rank of Airman First Class. During his military career, Mr. Faust was first assigned to a service training school for welding at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, from May thru August of 1952, where he successfully completed his training. He served at various duty stations and was later assigned to the 343rd Material Squadron (ADEF), Duluth, Minnesota, until his Air Force tour of duty was concluded. Mr. Faust was awarded and entitled to wear the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. A man of excellent character, Mr. Faust's "Honorable Discharge" is a testimonial of honest and faithful service to his country during the Korean Conflict. Those left to mourn the passing Mr. Faust include: His daughters, Charlotte Wheeler of Concord, Oklahoma and Michelle Godron of Jefferson City; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Francis Faust of Dexter, Iowa, Jack Faust (Marie) of the state of Wyoming, and James Faust (Jeanie) of Stuart, Iowa; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Rosalie Langston (Pat) of the state of California, Karen Skala of Toledo, Iowa, and Janet Zody of Toledo, Iowa; seven grandchildren; six brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law, Edward Simons (Margaret) of Des Moines, Iowa, Eugene Simons (MaryEllen) of Casey, Iowa, Leroy Simons (JoAnne) of Van Meter, Iowa, Leonard Simons (Mary Agnes) of Yale, Missouri, Robert Burke of Madrid, Iowa, and Ray Larson of Des Moines, Iowa; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his dear wife of almost 50 years, Elizabeth, on November 8, 2015; one son, James Wheeler; his father, Oscar; his mother, Lulu; two brothers, Eugene Faust and Melvin Faust; one sister, Marjorie Larson; two sisters-in-law, Viola Faust and Bernadine Burke; and four brothers-in-law, Dick Skala, John Zody, Andrew Simons, and Vincent Simons. Visitation for Mr. Faust will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2018, with the Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00 a.m., all in the Holy Family Catholic Church, 104 Oliver Street, Freeburg, with the Rev. William D. Debo as the Celebrant. Interment with full military honors will be in the Hawthorn Memorial Gardens, 4205 Horner Road, Jefferson City, under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, Vienna. Pallbearers for Mr. Faust are Kalieb Haslag, Cody Wheeler, Cloe Bunch, Haven Wheeler, Bowen Smith, Gypsy Wheeler, Eugene Bunch, Allen Smith, Jacob Wheeler, Jordan Wheeler, Noah Wheeler, Daneka Wheeler, Jeremiah Wheeler, and Travis Wheeler. Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Faust are suggested per the wishes of the family with envelopes available at the Holy Family Catholic Church or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, MO 65582. Online condolences may be shared with the family of Mr. Faust at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com