Jerome Leo "Red" Bellinghausen

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Jerome Leo "Red" Bellinghausen, 75, passed away on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, in the family farmhouse. He was the son of William and Matilda (Homan) and born in Montrose, Mo., on May 9, 1936. He was known as Jerome to his Montrose family and as "Red" to many others, Grandpa or Papa to his grandchildren, and Papapa to the great-grandchildren. He will be missed by all.

Jerome attended Catholic school as a child and later graduated from Montrose High School in 1954.

His first job was at the Montrose movie theater as a film reel changer and he has been a conscientious hard worker ever since.

He worked at the Montrose Rock Quarry and later joined the U.S. Army, working as a heavy equipment and shovel operator from 1959-'61. After the Army, he helped build the Stockton Lake Dam and worked in various rock quarries until his retirement in 1990. He was a man who led by example and worked tirelessly and without complaint throughout his life for many years at quarries until a heart condition forced him into early retirement, then he worked with the crops and cattle until his health slowed him down. Still, he worked in the vegetable garden and around the house always ensuring wonderful holidays for many kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.

He married Helen "Francie" Smith in 1959 and then later married Suzanne Theel Lundy on Jan. 2, 1970.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting, square dancing, and making others laugh with his colorful, salty stories.

Despite his larger-than-life stature and sometimes gruff exterior, Red is best known for his sense of humor, gentle nature, and his unquestioned generosity. His smile and laughter will be missed by all.

Red was a man who was always quick to console and to be of service, no matter how large or small the need. He was as comfortable with a wrench and screwdriver as he was with a tractor, he could operate as well with a roto-tiller as a fishing rod, was plain-spoken, quick with a joke and at ease talking with people from all walks of life. His kitchen table was his court and his door open to all.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Suzanne; parents, William and Matilda; and great-great-grandson, Brayden Hartline.

Survivors include two sisters and one brother, Martha Jane Goth, Montrose, Mo., Teresa Meredith and husband, Lynn, Montrose, Mo., Bernard Bellinghausen and wife, Coralee, Reeds Spring, Mo.; three daughters and two sons, Cheryl Conway, Fayetteville, Ark., Deborah Hartline, Walker, Mo., Catherine "Cat" Rinehart and husband, Charlie, Kansas City, Mo., Dan Lundy and wife, Rhonda, Edmond, Okla., Dennis Lundy and wife, Su, El Dorado Springs, Mo.; 12 grandchildren, Jeff Conway, Tim Hartline, Cindy Becker, Wendy Klopfenstein, Danielle Klopfenstein, Brandon Emerson, Ashley Lundy, Christine Lundy, Paul Lundy, Brian Lundy, Grace Lundy and Sara Rinehart. In addition, he is survived by several nieces and nephews; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous neighbors and friends; and his loyal dog, Josh.

Funeral services for Jerome Leo "Red" Bellinghausen were held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 16, at the First Baptist Church in Schell City, Mo., with the Rev. Doug Reynolds officiating. "Daddy's Hands" was the chosen musical selection. Pallbearers were Jerry Coy, Joe Coy, Don Sanders, Leon Gier, David Hines, and Bill Werkmeister. Honorary pallbearers were Gene Lowe, Leslie Wallace, and Roy Dissler. Burial was in the Lefler Cemetery, Harwood, Mo.

Memorials for Mr. Bellinghausen are suggested to the Northeast Vernon County School Improvement Project in care of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home.

Arrangements were made by the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City, Mo.