Basler, Francis Stewart

Basler, Francis Stewart passed away peacefully on Monday, January 2, 2023, at the age of 93.

Francis was a devoted and loving husband to Mary Beth Basler (nee Schwent), whom he cherished in marriage for 61 years. He was a devoted and loving father and grandfather to his late son, Dennis Gerard Basler; daughter, Jane Elizabeth Basler; daughter by choice, Katherine, and grandson, Maxim Mandel. He was a caring uncle and great-uncle, and a treasured friend to many.

Francis was born almost a month after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in Gary, Indiana. Shortly after his birth, the family returned to their hometown of Coffman, Missouri, in Ste. Genevieve County. Francis grew up in the idyllic rural town of Coffman, which had its own steam engine train station. The train, which ran from Cape Girardeau to Farmington, brought in professional boarders, who were traveling to Iron Mountain, aka St. Joe Lead Mine. Some of these boarders would stay at Francis’s home, since his mother was the best cook and award-winning piemaker in the area.

In Coffman, Francis attended a one-room schoolhouse with his brothers. The school was located up the hill from his two-story house, which featured a wrap-around porch and porch swing. Growing up, Francis served as an altar boy and built the fires in the stove for St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church. It is here where he thought he might want to become a priest, but instead he decided he would like to be an engineer, like the men who were boarders in his home. Francis graduated from Ste. Genevieve High School in 1947. He was the smartest boy and the No. 3 overall student in his class. He had to wait one year before attending the University of Missouri-Rolla, though, so he could save up enough money to attend. Francis studied civil engineering at Rolla, where he was a member of the Honor Society and Catholic fraternity Phi Kappa Theta. In 1952, he became the first member of his family to graduate from a university.

After college, Francis moved to St. Louis and married Mary Beth on May 2, 1953, at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. They shared 61 wonderful years together, raising two beautiful children, growing his career, and spending time together in the country.

Some of Francis’s career highlights included being the head engineer in building a section of the new Highway 55, estimating the footings for the St. Louis Gateway Arch, serving as project manager for the construction of the beautiful Kirkwood Methodist Church, and then starting his own general construction business in 1963. Some of A-M Construction Company, Inc.’s biggest clients included the Saint Louis Public Schools and Washington University (both the Medical and Danforth campuses).

In addition to his beloved wife and son, Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude A. Basler (nee Harter) and Leo W. Basler; and brothers Lindell and William “Red” Basler. Francis cherished and loved his brothers and the happy times they spent fishing and building together.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Louis Arc, 1177 N. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63132. Services: Visitation will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Parish Catholic Church, 1408 South 10^th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin directly after at 11:30 a.m. A private burial will be held at New Cavalry Catholic Cemetery in Farmington, Missouri.