John J. Schumacher

March 28, 1925 — December 25, 2016

John J. entered the US Army for military service on January 25, 1944. After basic training, John was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division as a glider infantryman in a heavy weapons company. He served in heavy combat activity in the Belgian Ardennes in January of 1945 and the airborne drop across the Rhine River into Germany in March of 1945. After the war ended, John returned to the States and was honorably discharged from the Army at the rank of Private First Class on January 29th, 1946. In 1984 John was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the United States and in 2012 was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor by the Republic of France.

On February 14, 1946 John J. was united in marriage with Wanda Shride in a Valentine’s Day wedding at the United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Three sons were born to this union. The family lived on the Schumacher family farm north east of Coon Rapids. John J. and Wanda shared in the farm work and were loyal supporters of their children in their school and extracurricular activities. While farming, John also worked at Farm Center in Coon Rapids before engaging in the real estate and insurance business at Annear Agency for many years. From 1972 to 2008, John J. served on the Glidden Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, which became part of the merged Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative in 2010. He also served on the Corn Belt Power Cooperative Board of Directors from 2000 to 2008. An electrical substation owned by Corn Belt southwest of Glidden was dedicated in 2014 in honor of Schumacher for his long service to the rural electric cooperative industry. Later he opened his own agency where he and Wanda also worked together. John was also affiliated with Community Insurance Agency before finally retiring at age 80.

The Schumacher family has been loyal members of the Methodist Church where both John J. and Wanda were choir members. In addition, John J. sang many solos, duets and with mixed groups through the years. The family greatly enjoyed leisure activities such as get-aways at a lake for boating, water-skiing and picnicking with friends. In later years, John and Wanda especially loved watching their grandchildren grow, gardening, or sitting in the yard swing and enjoying God’s nature around them. John loved woodworking and crafting items to give as gifts, or to sell at craft fairs.

John J. cared for his wife for several years at home before she moved to Thomas Rest Haven where she died in 2010. John J. continued to live at home and pursue his interest in woodcrafts, World War II history and many other areas until his health began to fail, eventually entering Thomas Rest Haven in May of 2016. He died there on December 25, 2016 at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 27 days.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Wanda; son Kenneth Schumacher; sister Helen, in infancy and two brothers Walter (Jessie and Lorene) Schumacher and Elmer Schumacher,

John J. is survived by two sons Steve (LuAnn) of Tucson, AZ and Jeff (Melinda) Schumacher of Blue Springs, MO; four grandchildren Jennifer (Nick) Rienstra, Brad Schumacher, Kurt Schumacher and Peter Schumacher; two great grandchildren Nathan and Ella Rienstra; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many beloved friends.

Reverend Joyce Webb, Officiating Music “No Greater Love”
“On Eagle’s Wings” “In The Garden”
“Hymn Of Promise” Cindy Seastrom & Peg Wiemers, Vocalists Lula Garnes, Accompanist Recorded Music “The Stars and Stripes Forever”   Casket Bearers David Baker
Stan Janssen
Jake Johnston George Johnston
Mark McCool
Peter Schumacher Honorary Casket Bearers All of the loving family and friends who have helped John J. and Wanda over the years.

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John J. Schumacher

March 28, 1925 — December 25, 2016

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