Howard L. Jeffrie

Howard L. Jeffrie is in peace with the Lord, Monday, December 24, 2018. He is survived by his wife Maxine of 54 years, daughter Anne Marie Fleming, son in law, Robert S. Fleming and Granddaughter Clare Marie Fleming.

Howard was born October 18, 1941 at the Lutheran Hospital in Hampton, IA to Leslie and Ruth Jeffrie. He was the youngest of three, with two sisters Nancy Northcut and Judith Gallogly.

He attended school in Hampton while growing up and graduated in 1960 from Hampton High School. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in the school of Engineering. He received his BS degree in Aerospace Engineering on May 29, 1964. Howard accepted a position with McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis starting June 22, 1964 in the Guidance and Control Department. He worked there designing and evaluating flight controls for fighter aircraft. During this time he attended night school earning two MS Degrees; Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management. In 1975 Howard accepted a job at Emerson Electric's Electronic and Space Division in St. Louis. He retired from Emerson in 1995 to become a Financial Advisor with American Express. He took full retirement in 2002.

Howard was a great story teller. He often talked about growing up on the farm, milking cows and driving tractors. After his chores were done, he spent time as a tap and ballet dancer. He and his dance partner would perform recitals around town. Once entering High School his talent for sports shined on the football field, track team and his biggest passion as a wrestler. He also found his first and only love, his wife Maxine. They dated throughout high school and college and were married on June 14, 1964.

Making his home St. Louis, they built a house and raised their daughter Anne. They were both very involved in their church; both at Village Lutheran in Ladue and St. Paul's Lutheran in Des Peres. Howard served in many positions and always stepped in to help when needed.

His love for sports continued throughout his life by following the Iowa State Wrestling team and the St. Louis Cardinals. He could never have enough red shirts to cheer on his teams.

After retirement Howard and Maxine spent time traveling the world. He continued solving problems with his spread sheets, completing puzzles, planning trips, building model airplanes, cooking and working in his wood shop building jewelry boxes. Howard and Maxine also spent much of their time with their only granddaughter Clare. Teaching and showing her all he could about what he learned in life.

Howard was truly “one of a kind”. He loved challenges and would stick with them until they were solved. He was always there with a smile, a joke or a hug. His spunk and passion will be greatly missed.

A Memorial Visitation will be held Saturday, January 5, 2019 from noon until 1pm at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, 12345 Manchester Road, Des Peres MO 63131 followed by a Memorial Service at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Howard's memory to St. Paul's Lutheran Church "Tell the Next Generation" Fund are greatly appreciated.

Please leave a message of condolence or a favorite memory of Howard for his family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.