He is survived by Sandra (Stueve), his wife of 58 years, daughters Suzanne (Randy Smith) and Valerie (Dan Williams), brothers Denny and Mike (Suzette) and several nieces, nephews, grand-nephews and cousins.
Don began his professional music career playing guitar in high school with his lifelong friends Bob Grimm and Al Lehmann playing in taverns and at dances in South County with their band, The Rhythm Ramblers. He is best known for his banjo stylings which started in the Gaslight Square days at Your Father's Mustache. Many St. Louisans remember the Banjo Palace on Market Street with great fondness. From there, Don played all over the St. Louis area and around the country most notably and longest on the Streckfus Steamers/Gateway Riverboat cruises. Don and his musicians provided entertainment on the boats for over forty years.
He has worked with the finest musicians in St. Louis and they are not just good friends but a part of our family.
Over the course of his career, he made several television appearances including The Charlotte Peters Show, Good Morning America and The Ed Sullivan Show. He has been officially honored twice - in 1975 he was named the Official Missouri State Ragtime Banjo Player and in 1991, April 4 was declared Don Scherrer Day by Mayor Vincent Schoemehl in the City of St. Louis.
ln addition to his music performance career, he also ran the Don Scherrer Guitar Center in Arnold and taught a generation of kids in Jefferson County how to play guitar and banjo.
He served in the U.S. Army in active duty and in the Reserves. He loved watching the Cardinals, going to auctions and yard sales, playing bingo and poker machines and spending time with "his girls."
He was a wonderful husband and a great father. He is much-loved and will be missed by many.
A Celebration of Life visitation will be held on Wednesday October 6, 2021 from 4-8 pm at Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home, 1081 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, MO 63010. Private burial will be held at National Cemetery, Jefferson Barracks, MO.
ln lieu of flowers, please go out, support live music and tip your musicians! Or you may make donations to The St. Louis Banjo Club (NOT Tax Deductible), The National Blues Museum or any music education organization.
