Mr. Lovercamp graduated salutatorian from Sweet Springs High School. He earned a
bachelor of science degree in education from Missouri Valley College in 1952, graduating cum laude. He earned a master’s degree in school administration from Central Missouri State University in 1966.
He was a United States Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater from
1942 to 1945. He was awarded ten battle stars in the Asiatic-Pacific campaign and two battle stars in the Philippine Liberation campaign. He was a member of American Legion Post 279 in Sweet Springs, where he was past adjutant and commander. He was past adjutant of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5651 in Sweet Springs, and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2591 in Sedalia. He was also a member of American Legion Post 16 for the past two years and American Legion Post 642, where he was chairman of financial gift requests committee, chairman of Pettis County oratorical contest and chairman of seventh district oratorical contest. He was elected judge advocate of Post 642 in 1999.
He was a public school secondary teacher for 25 years, serving as chairman of the science
department at Smith-Cotton High School for the last five years of his career. He initiated the
District 200 Science Fair, and had the distinction of having an entry advance to the International Science Fair in Baltimore, Maryland. He had also taught part-time as an agriculture instructor at State Fair Community College. He was past treasurer and executive committee member of Sedalia Community Educator’s Association and past member of rights and responsibilities committee of Missouri State Teachers Association. He retired in 1977.
Mr. Lovercamp was a lifelong Lutheran and a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. He
was a former member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where he served five years on the stewardship board, as congregation president for seven years, congregation vice-president for two years, district convention delegate for two sessions and adult Bible class leader for ten years. He also served on the CMSU campus ministry board for five years and as promotion chairman of St. Paul’s Lutheran School Foundation for two years.
He was active in supporting the youth of the community, serving as a 4-H leader for 10
years, on the little league board of directors for two years, on the Khoury Soccer League for two years, as the Cub Scout pack committee chairman for three years, as a scoutmaster for six years, and as the adult leader of a wagon train of Missouri boy scouts on a 30-day encampment on Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
He was a member of Missouri Spotted Swine Association, serving as secretary-treasurer for
three years and president for one year, Pettis County swine improvement committee, extension long range planning council, and Missouri Pork Producers Association, serving as a board member for ten years. He was a Missouri delegate to American Pork Congress for six sessions.
He was a member of the Governor’s advisory council on agriculture for two years, a member
of the President’s advisory committee on extension and agriculture at Lincoln University in
Jefferson City, a member of Farm Bureau task force on agriculture in the classroom, past president of Missouri Agribusiness and Trade Export Services and past swine consultant at Tindle Mills in Springfield.
He was recognized as a FFA State Farmer in 1937, ranking third in the state, and received
an American Farmer degree in 1939. He reached his golden anniversary in swine production in 1981 and received a resolution of commendation from the Missouri Senate for that
accomplishment. He was Missouri Master Seed Stock Producer in 1981. He received the John A. Ficken Leadership Award in recognition of leadership by a pork producer in 1981, and was inducted into the National Spotted Swine hall of fame in 1989 and the Missouri State Fair livestock hall of fame in 1991. He started showing hogs in 1931. Over the years, he won 739 ribbons, 24 rosettes and banners and 20 plaques and trophies.
He was Pork Industry Group director of Missouri’s National Livestock and Meat Board for
seven years, and served on the P.I.G. nominating committee for two years, processed meats
committee for one year, nutrition and research grants committee for four years, nutrition and
research grants committee for four years, was vice-chairman of pork new product development and meat science committee, member of meat board nominating committee for two years, member of P.I.G. long range planning committee and N.L.S.M.B. executive committee, and served on the new product development task force for one year. The task force adopted the slogan, “Pork, the Other White Meat.”
He was featured in stories in the Missouri Pork Producer magazine in 1998, National Hog
Farmer, Pork 85, Missouri Ruralist and Today’s Farmer, and was quoted in the 1985 edition of Farm Journal, Hog Extra edition.
Also surviving two sons, Jim Lovercamp, and his wife, Elaine, of Lockwood, and Greg
Lovercamp, and his wife, Meg, of Wenatchee, Wash.; and eight grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter in infancy, Patricia Sue Lovercamp.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 10, 2006, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Ronald Hoehne officiating.
Pallbearers will be Rick Miller, Steve Davis, Dennis Mueller, Larry Ewald, Mike Milligan and
Bob Mock. Honorary pallbearers will be fellow teachers and co-workers from Smith-Cotton High School.
Burial will be in Smithton Cemetery, with military honors conducted by Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 2591.
Friends may call after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Heckart/Gillespie Funeral Home, where the
family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Condolences may also be sent online at www.heckart-gillespie.com.
The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Paul’s Lutheran School Foundation or the
elevator fund at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
