Nicholas Joseph Wachowe, age 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in unincorpoated St. Louis County, Missouri on July 9, 2026. Nick was born February 26, 1940 in Brestowatz, Yugoslavia (what is now the country of Serbia) to Nikolaus and Genoveve [Wagner]Wachowe.
He was born into a Danube Swabian family, which is a German ethnic group that had settled in the region hundreds of years before and transformed the wilderness into a vibrant center for agricultural production. After World War II, a communist regime took power inYugoslavia and committed genocide on the Danube Swabians. Nick and his family were rounded up and all of their property was confiscated by the regime. His great grandparents, mother, sister and he were imprisoned in concentration camps. Through the efforts of his grandfather, Louis Wagner, the family escaped from the concentration camp and fled to Austria where they became refugees.
Nick and his family immigrated to the United States of America in 1951 and became farm laborers in De Soto, Missouri and shortly after moved to St. Louis, Missouri.
Nick graduated from St. Francis DeSalles High School in St. Louis, Missouri in 1959.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1960 and was honorably discharged in 1964. Nick served as a photogrammatrist, generating maps for navigation and targeting with a Top Secret Clearance. During his military service he was stationed in Japan, Vietnam, and at Strategic Air Command in Nebraska. While in Japan, he studied History through the University of Maryland Overseas Program.
Nick married Teresa [Medici]Wachowe in May 25, 1973 at St. Monica Church in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He was introduced to Teresa by his sister Karoline [Wachowe]Stinchcomb who was a friend and co-worker of Teresa’s at the Famous-Barr department stores where they worked as seamstresses.
Nick worked as a factory worker at Carter Carburetor and Hussmann Refrigeration in St. Louis, Missouri. He also worked for a period of time as a painter and decorator for Rexall Drug and MPR Decorating.
He retired from Hussmann Refrigeration in 2002 as a Union Steelworker.
Nick and Teresa purchased a plot of land in Thompson, Missouri in 1996 that had been a small farm operation. They began raising chickens, goats, and growing vegetables, and an Asian Pear orchard. They also leased some of the property for cattle grazing. He loved spending time there and became close with the nearby Amish community.
Nick was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Alton, Illinois. He enjoyed reading, garage sales, classical music, world traveler (every continent except Australia and Antarctica and all 50 United States) and was a life-long beekeeper.
Remaining to cherish Nick’s memory are spouse, Teresa Wachowe; children, Frank Wachowe and Louis Wachowe; grandchildren, Elizabeth Wachowe and Beatrice Wachowe.
Visitation will be held 7/16/26 at 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois Rd. Mass will be held 7/17/26 at 11:30am at St. Richard’s Church, 11123 Schuetz Rd., with Clergy officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery and Military Honors will be conducted.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the International Institute of St. Louis and also the Fraternal Order of Eagles