Kenneth "Gabby" Wiser

Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Vandalia, Missouri.
Officiating will be: Rev. Jeffrey Mims.
Music provided by: church choir.
Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.
Pallbearers: James Stapleton, Bill Cockrell, Charlie Livers, Roger Hoover, William Wheeler and Donnel Perkins. Honorary pallbearers: Art Wiser, Mython Parson Jr., Rodney Parson, Brian Overton, Walter Dixon, Keith Parson, John Parson, Dwaine Parson, Evan Arnold and Charles Holman.

Kenneth "Gabby" Wiser passed away with family at his side on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. at the Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia, Missouri. Kenneth was a lifelong Vandalia resident and attended area schools. He started working at Harbison Walker Refractories in 1944 and then went into the U. S. Army from 1950 to 1952. After his military service, he returned to Vandalia and worked as a mechanic at Gene Heim's Buick Garage for 14 years. He also returned to his job back at the brick plant as a lift truck mechanic for another 40 years, retiring in 1992. Kenneth was a member of the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Vandalia and he enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, playing bingo, camping and spending time with his family.

Born: January 8, 1927 in Vandalia the son of John and Clara (Day) Wiser.

Married: Ida Mae Kerr on November 12, 1949 in Vandalia; she survives at the home.

Survivors include: wife, Ida of Vandalia; two sons: Kenneth and wife, Margaret Wiser of Macon, Missouri; Darrel and wife, Valeria Wiser of Colorado Springs, Colorado; three daughters: Jacqueline and husband, James Jones of Rock Island, Illinois; Janet and husband, Ronald Turner of Vandalia; Wanda and husband, Louis Connor of Vandalia; 23 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: one brother: Eugene Wiser; one sister: Gloria Parson; one grandson: Brandon Overton; three great-granddaughters: Imani De'Shi Wiser, Leslie Monet Wiser and Shelby Hein.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the Alzheimer's Association, 1121 Business Loop 70 East, Columbia, Missouri 65201.