Edwin John Schumacher

Edwin John Schumacher went to be with the Lord on May 26, 2015. He was born on December 24, 1918 to John and Mary (Wolter) Schumacher on South Ridge in Mound Prairie Township of rural Houston, MN. He was the eighth child of nine. Ed lived all of his life on South Ridge other than when he enlisted into the Army where he served from 1942 to Nov 1945, as Mess Sergeant for the officers. While serving in the Philippines, he contracted jungle rot. When they couldn’t get it under control there, he was sent home for recovery. Following this, he was station on the West Coast transporting the troops returning home via “the Troop Train” on which he was the cook. He was very proud to have served his Country.
He married Arlene Mark on March 6, 1948. They ran the South Ridge Store from 1952 to 1965. It was a grocery store and the local gathering place for the neighbors to exchange information. During that time and after, Ed worked for Northern Engraving of La Crosse, and various siding and roofing companies. One of his last tenures was with Raymond Brother of La Crosse and Krause Andersen where he worked on the Civic Center – Valley View Mall and Logan High School to name a few. Upon his retirement at age 62, he took up golf and enjoyed the weekly rounds with the boys. He spent uncountable hours in his basement workshop as well as the garage workshop – building many projects from wood for his family and tinkering with many antique items and bringing them back to a workable life. He restored at least 6 antique Ford vehicles, his last project was his 1966 Ford Mustang.
Ed was an avid bowler up until age 92, winning several trophies and was interviewed for a spot on a local news station. He and Arlene met on a blind date where they went bowling and they have bowled for most of their married life.
He was always busy with something, he served as a deacon of the 1st Church of Christ for many years and Mound Prairie Treasurer for 30 years. He was an avid coin collector and was very involved with the La Crescent Historical Society for whome he drove one of his antique cars in the Apple Fest Parade . He was also a lifetime member of the Gittens Leidel American Legion Post 595 La Crescent.
From the time he started doing carpentry work he joined the Carpenters Union Local 1143 of La Crosse and proudly drove his antique vehicle in the Labor Day parade for them.

Ed was a family oriented man. His Mom told him at a young age “Your duty is to help others when you can”. His love of flowers and nature was nurtured by his Mom and older sisters. Along with his love of nature, he also enjoyed his deer hunting with family and in later years, turkey hunting.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Arlene, one son Thomas, his daughters Margaret “Peggy” Somerville and Nancy (Rod) Davidson, Six grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and countless friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Rudy and Elsie Mark, his siblings, Walter, Martha, Dorothy, Pauline, Agnes, Marie, Dalie, George and their spouses, his wife’s siblings, LaVerne, Weldon, Marjorie and their spouses and Robert “Bob” Somerville, who was his son-in-law.
Special Thanks to the Houston County Nursing Service, Option Plus and Valley View Health Care for the loving care and service extended to Ed while in your care. God Bless All of You.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Friday, May 29, 2015 at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services La Crescent chapel; 111 South Oak St. Pastor Charles Robinson will officiate. Burial with military rites by the Gittens Leidel American Legion Post 595 will be in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, La Crescent. Friends may call on the family at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 4 until 7 pm and again on Friday from 10am until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the La Crosse First Church Of Christ or the Oklahoma chapter of Feed The Children; 333 N. Meridian, Oklahoma OK, 73107.