Charles Edwin Pepmiller, 74, of St. Peters, Missouri, died Monday, September 22, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. Pepmiller, son of the late Ernest and Lillian Kenaga Pepmiller, was born January 30, 1934, in Doniphan, Missouri. He was in accounting, banking and real estate and had been a medical business manager for Dr. John Beck of Chester, Illinois. Mr. Pepmiller was an alderman and treasurer for 28 years in Chester and was a board member, vice president and in investments and loans at the First Bank of Chester from 1984-1987. From 1987 to his retirement in 1998, he was a loan officer and in collections and repossessions at the First National Bank of Steeleville. He also worked as an accountant, public and cost accountant in St. Louis and Chester.

Mr. Pepmiller was a founder and director of the Perryville-Chester Bi-state Economic Development and was a member of the Chester Lion's Club, an Exalted Ruler of the B.P.O.E. #1629 and a Master of Lodge - All chairs in the Chester AFAM #72. Most recently he was a real estate agent with Coldwell-Banker Gundaker and was very pleased to be a member of their team.

His proudest accomplishments were being an Eagle Boy Scout with two bronze palms and Order of the Arrow from Camp Lewellyn and being the youngest Lieutenant commissioned by the 140th infantry. He was a First Lieutenant 138th MOARNG service with Captain Melvin Young, a West Point graduate and he guarded Gaslight Square after the tornado. A note from Nancy Eggemeyer stated, "Charlie, the city of Chester is a much better place because you lived here."

Mr. Pepmiller especially enjoyed serving as transportation officer with the Moolah Shriners transporting families from the Spirit of St. Louis Airport to the Shriner's Hospital and back.

On December 24, 1956, he was married to Carolean McPheeters at the Spring Hill Baptist Church in Fairdealing, Missouri. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Charlene Hall of O'Fallon, Missouri, and one son, Clayton Pepmiller and his wife, Rhonda, of St. Charles, Missouri; and five grandchildren, Crystal Hall, Chad Pepmiller, Cheryl Atkins and her husband, Drew, Chelsea Pepmiller and Cayla Pepmiller.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 25, 2008, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 4:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel and burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery.