Aloysius “Al” A. Struckhoff passed away Saturday, April 11, 2026, surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his children, Alois (Yvonne) Struckhoff, Julie (John) Engemann, Chris (Jeff) Arnold, Eric Struckhoff, Marty (Sarah) Struckhoff, Cara (Jim) Achenbach, Amy (David) Konys; bonus son, Fred (Andrea) Dressel; caretaker angel, Debbie Calvert; 19 grandchildren, Jennifer, Jestine, DeAnna, Mary, Rachelle, Alaina, Jacob, Anna, Jamie, Mariah, Alexa, Mackenzie, Dominic, Julia, Ally, Zoe, Sophia, Adelaide, Eleanor; 28 great-grandchildren, Joel, Emma, Tyler, Noah, Mia, Isaiah, Mary Rose, Justin, David, Nora Mae, Hannah, Mide, Genine, Casper, Remie, Louis, Millie, Ellis, Madison, Lane, Lea, Leonard, Mabel, William, Arthur, Thomas, Teddi Rose, Jackson; two sisters, Mary Feldmann and Helen Reiling; two sisters-in-law, Rita Struckhoff and Viola Struckhoff; and brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Kate Voss; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.
Al was born in a farmhouse in the Augusta Bottoms on September 26, 1927, where he lived until the family moved to the hill country in 1945. He was the second of 9 children. Al was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church in Augusta and attended Immaculate Conception School until the 8th grade, when it was decided that he had all the knowledge he’d need for living. And yes, he did walk to school most days. He helped with planting and harvesting, as well as with the livestock. Inside chores were not his specialty.
Al loved playing baseball and played with many teams, including the 1947 Augusta Championship ball team. He was a catcher and was one fast little base runner. It may be a white lie, but he told his kids he doesn’t think he was ever thrown out when stealing a base. Unless someone can prove otherwise, we will believe it as fact.
He met his wife Rita Voss at Shorty’s Tavern in Dutzow after a baseball game in 1956. She had come over to borrow her brother, David Voss’s car, who was one of Al’s teammates. Al took one look at her and struck up a conversation. It wasn’t long before his blue eyes reeled her in. They were married on May 11, 1957, at St. Francis Borgia Church. After beginning their life in Washington and starting a family, the home on Schell Road was built by dad and friends, and they moved in in early 1961. Al and Rita populated the neighborhood well, as did the other neighbors, and it was a beautiful, fun place to raise a family.
Al was a carpenter and was a member of the Carpenters Union 1839 since 1962. While out on almost-daily drives, he would often point out buildings and homes he had helped build. His memory and mind were amazing, and he would fill us in on who lived where when he was growing up and share stories with crazy details. His recollection of people, names and places always amazed us. And his dry, one-liner comebacks and comments always brought a chuckle.
The beautiful thing about Dad is that he was content with everything. He possessed everything he needed and wanted. He loved Missouri and never had any desire to live anywhere other than Augusta. A bigger house, a brand-new car, nice clothes and a perfectly smooth driveway were never goals. Now, he was pretty proud of his nice green lawn. But it was only after the kids and neighborhood kids were done playing ball, dirt bikes were no longer driven, the yard didn’t have all the cars parked in it, and playground equipment and stock tank pools were no longer needed that dad started spending time enjoying the lawn.
Dad’s true love was his wife of 59 years, Rita. When Al asked Rita’s dad, Henry Voss, for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Henry’s words to dad were, “You may not always be happy, but you’ll never be bored.” Truer words have never been spoken. And it may have taken a few years, but Mom had Dad pretty well trained and settled down from his independent, somewhat irresponsible wild ways. No more missing work on Mondays.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rita; his parents, Edmund and Frances; two sisters, Mercedes (Leonard) Hopen and Ruth (Maynard) Heman; four brothers, John in infancy, Paul (Marge) Struckhoff, Rich Struckhoff and John Struckhoff; and his daughter-in-law, Andrea Dressel. Also, preceded in death are Rita’s sisters and brothers, Henry and Rose Voss, Dolores and Tom Kane, Dick Voss, Clarence and Lorraine McDonald, Rosie and Hans Neier, and Dave and Starlyn Voss.
One of dad’s frequent sayings was “Nobody is getting out of here alive”. He would also say he was reading the Missourian to see if his name was in the obits. Well, Dad, you made it in this week. You will be remembered and missed.
Memorial Visitation: Monday, May 11, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church - Augusta, 5912 S Missouri 94, Augusta, MO 63332.
Memorial Service: Monday, May 11, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church - Augusta.
Memorial donations: Immaculate Conception Church in Augusta or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org).