Arthur Lander, retired owner of one of the oldest book binding and related products business in the Midwest, died Wednesday, Dec. 9 at his Creve Coeur home.  He was 87.  Family members said Mr. Lander had been hospitalized for an illness, returned home, and after breakfast took a nap and died in his sleep.

Mr. Lander worked at the business founded as Lander Bookbinding by his father, the late Morris Lander, in 1921 and which at one time occupied all four corners of Ninth and Walnut streets downtown. It later moved to Macklind Avenue.  The firm is now the Lander Binding & Finishing Co., and is located in Hanley Industrial Court in Brentwood.  Mr. Lander’s sons, Steve and Mike Lander, are the third generation heads of the firm.

Arthur Lander began working in the family business while still in junior high school.  He worked there full time after he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington University in 1948.

Around the time of the Korean War, Mr. Lander served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany.  He became an active member and officer in the local Jewish War Veterans.

For over 60 years, Mr. Lander gathered fellow Jewish War Veterans and family members to visit all Jewish cemeteries on Memorial Day to pay tribute to the fallen, and to sound taps and enact a rifle salute.  These efforts were the subject of an article in the Jewish Light last spring.

Mr. Lander was also a founding member of the St. Louis Ski Club, known as the Shish Boomers in the late 1950s. Family member describe him as an avid outdoorsman who had skied Hidden Valley into his 70s.  He kept ice skates in his car and would skate at Steinberg Rink in Forest Park at lunch time.

Mr. Lander was also an accomplished musician who played the saxophone in the Shriners and OASIS bands and often played “Auld Lang Syne” at New Year’s parties.  He was a 33rd degree Mason, active in the Moolah Temple.

He was a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Mr. Lander was the son of the late Morris and Nettie Lander of St. Louis.  Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Anita Lander; two sons, Steven Lander (Lori)  of Chesterfield and Mike Lander (Julie)  of Creve Coeur; a daughter Cindy Lander Wallach (John) of Clayton and 10 grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at noon Sunday, Dec. 15 at Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 South Mason Road, followed by interment at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road.

Memorial contributions preferred to Birthday Joy, 34 N. Brentwood, Suite 215, 63105; Girls in the Know, 312 Central Place, 63122; Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 South Mason Road, 63141.