Robert S. "Bob" Tratchel

Robert Stanley Bob Tratchel, 87, of Benton City, died at 1:05 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico.

Mr. Tratchel was born on Dec. 18, 1919, in rural Audrain County, a son of William Wallace and Mina Alice Garver Tratchel.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 22, 2007, at Pickering Funeral Home with the Rev. Rick Smith officiating. Burial will be in Benton City Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Tratchel was a lifelong farmer who lived on the farm where he was born until being admitted to the Missouri Veterans Home on June 6, 2006. During WWII, he served as a Staff Sergeant with the 345th fighters squadron in Sicily, Naples and Rome from March 1942 to October 1945. He was awarded six Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and District Unit Badge.

On Jan. 14, 1967, he married Genevieve Barker who passed away on Oct. 25, 1986. From this marriage he had four stepchildren, Beverly (Jim) Whitaker, Tallahassee, Fla., Shirley (Norman) Kruse, New Carrollton, Md., Howard (Shirley) Barker, Mexico, and Lyndal (Ruth Ann) Barker, Benton City; ten grandchildren, Pam (John) Forrest, Dwight (Mary) Whitaker, Glen (Maurene) Kruse, Douglas (Debbie) Kruse, Dan (Robin) Barker, Debbie (Tom) Usnick, Steve (Jacque) Barker, Kevin (Cindy) Barker, Jason (Brandlyn) Barker, and Angela (Brian) Barringhaus; 13 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

On May 14, 1988, he married Rheva Tiller, who survives at the home. He had four stepchildren from this union, Richard (Melaina) Tiller, Lebanon, Steven (Georgia) Tiller, Mexico, Rebecca Guethle, Gilbert, Ariz., and Kevin Tiller, New Castle, Del.; four grandchildren, Lisa (Rick) Smith, Amy (Jay) Robnett, Jennifer Foster, and Sarah Guethle; and eight great grandchildren.