John Richard Dengler

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps Scholarship Fund or the St. Charles Foundry Art Centre. John Richard Dengler, of St. Charles, Missouri, died on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at the age of 82. Beloved husband the late Selba Tru "Trudy" Dengler; dearest son of the late John and Lily Mueller Dengler; loving father of John L. (Carol Shoptaugh) Dengler, Laura (Larry) Muench, and Anne (Rodney) Albin; cherished grandfather of Clinton E. Albin and William J. Albin; dearest uncle of Charles M. (Marian) Rice III and special friend of Jill G. Baue; dear uncle, great uncle, cousin and friend. John owned and operated John Dengler Tobacconist Inc.; a shop established by his father in 1917 in downtown St. Louis and believed to be the oldest continuous family owned tobacco shop west of the Mississippi. He attended Beaumont High School, served in World War II in France and Germany and attended Washington University where he received a certificate in retailing from its University College program in 1952. It was during these college days that he met Trudy and they were married August 18, 1951. John had a strong interest in history, architecture, and antiques. He moved his business in 1972 and later his family to St. Charles where he and his wife became immersed in the preservation of buildings and traditions of the Historic South Main National Register District, including Farmer's Home. John was highly respected in his community due to his extraordinary dedication to the promotion of the historic St. Charles area. He organized and gave tours of South Main Street. John served as President of South Main Preservation Society in 1978 and 1979. As president he organized and chaired the 175th Anniversary Commemorations of the Louisiana Purchase Transfer ceremonies and the Lewis and Clark Rendezvous. He served on the Landmarks. Preservation Board for the City of St. Charles from 1982 to 1986. From 1987 to 1989 he was chairman of the Civil War Living History Days. In 1992, he founded the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps. He also served as chair of the City of St. Charles Christmas Traditions for 7 years. In 1998 he served as Chairman of the Special Business District Board of St. Charles and received a William T. Kemper Foundation Community Service Award. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and chaired its Governmental Concerns Committee. In 1994 he received the Chamber's Lifetime Distinguished Service Award and in 1995, he was the first recipient of the Missouri Heritage Award. John was a Commander in the Ivanhoe Commandery #8 Knights Templar and was commissioned as a Colonel in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. He held many professional offices including: Director of the Retail Tobacco Dealers of America; President and Chair of the Board of Retail Tobacco Dealers of America; Secretary of the Tobacconist Association of America, Ltd.; columnist for The Tobacco Leaf; and President of the St. Louis Tobacco Table. He received many additional honors and awards including: First recipient Quality Retailer Award from the Pipe & Tobacco Council of the US; Guardsman Award from the Departments of Army and Air Force for Patriotic Service; Kapnismologists Extraordinaire Award of Merit from the St. Charles Pipe Smoker's Association; Veterans of Foreign Wars 17th Annual Americanism Award; and City of St. Charles 2nd Annual Discovery Award for Leadership in Community Progress. The Knights Templar Service is Friday night at 7:30 PM.