WAUSA — Gerald A. Schumacher, 101, Wausa, died March 4, 2025, at the Countryside Villa, Wausa. Mass of Christian Burial was March 8 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Crofton, with the Rev. Jim Keiter officiating. Burial was at the Magnet Cemetery, Magnet, with military rites by the Crofton American Legion Post #128 and the American Legion Riders. Pallbearers were Gayle Albrecht, Scot Albrecht, Thomene Hottel, Bill Hottel, Nancy Wisner and Becky Dock. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Schumacher, Mary Coker and the Crofton American Legion Post #128. Visitation and a vigil service were Friday at church, and continued Saturday one hour prior to services.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Crofton.

Gerald Arthur was born Jan. 22, 1924, in Crofton, to Anton Paul and Anna K. (Kube) Schumacher. He grew up south of Crofton, and attended Country School there. He attended the eighth and ninth grade in Bloomfield. Gerry helped his dad on the farm at a time when draft horses were used. Gerry joined the U.S. Navy after being drafted and served on the U.S.S. Stormes DD-780 destroyer ship from June 2, 1944, to June 4, 1946, as an electrician’s mate third class. After his discharge and returning to the states, Gerry worked as an electrician. He married Betty Jean Anderson Nov. 24, 1948, in Hartington, during a stretch of heavy snow which lasted into 1949.

Gerry and Betty moved to Colorado in 1951, where he worked as an electrician in the Denver area. He also worked at night for Pacific Intermountain Express from 1951-1954. He then found work through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers labor union in the Denver area. A downturn in employment in 1958 prompted him to sign on at a military communications site in Greenland to pay for his home and car. Eight months later, he returned home to his wife and five children. Gerry and Betty rented 11 acres in the Welby, Colo., area on the north side of Denver. They sent their children to the parochial school and grew a large garden. They both volunteered for the VFW. Gerry and Betty moved to Commerce City, Colo., before retiring in 1985 and moving to Northglenn, Colo. They returned to Wausa in the early 2000s.

Gerry was married to Betty for nearly 73 years until her death April 14, 2021 at the age of 94.

He loved to play pitch, was member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, the Crofton American Legion Post #128, and a lifetime member of the VFW.

Gerry is survived by three children, Frances (Don) Wisner, Cortez, Colo.; Gloria Anderson Schumacher, Brighton, Colo.; Mary Coker, Denver, Colo.; and daughter-in-law, Roxanne Mowry, Texas; eight grandchildren, Emily Wisner Meyers, Nancy Wisner, Thomene Hottel, Bill Hottel, Becky (Patrick) Dock, Christin, Michelle, Anthony; and 12 great-grandchildren, Lucianna, Thomas, Fredie, Javier, Hope Dock, Dre Schumacher, Anton, Kaidean, Cody, Jacob, Keondre and Bentley.

Gerry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; two sons, Thomas and Anthony; granddaughter, Michelle Mowrey; siblings, Lorraine (Al) Pratt, Jerome Schumacher, Rita (Dan) Root and Paul Schumacher; brother-in-law, Vern Anderson; and three sistersin- law, Mary Ann Albrecht, Jinnie Vise and Gloria Anderson.