Ralph Schumacher

VISITATION:

9:30 - 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27 at Faith Lutheran Church

SERVICE:

11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27 at Faith Lutheran Church

Ralph E. Schumacher, 97, of Chippewa Falls, died peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at the Chippewa Manor while under the care of St. Joseph's Hospice.

He was born May 3, 1919 in Dundee, Ill., a son of the late Albert and Anna (Liepitz) Schumacher. He graduated from the Dundee Community High School in1937 and worked with his father and uncles in Schumacher's Sanitary Market in Dundee until being drafted into the U.S. Army in October of 1941. During WWII he was in the Field Artillery of the 27th Infantry Division, spending time in the South Pacific on the islands of Hawaii, Saipan, New Hebrides and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in October, 1945.

On May 29, 1948, Ralph married the former Lydia C. Boettcher at St. John's Lutheran Church in Cadott. They farmed near Cornell for several years, then resided in Illinois and Jim Falls before moving to Chippewa Falls in 1988. Ralph was also employed at the Peter's Meat packing plant and the Jim Falls Dairy.

He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls and had held various offices in the churches he attended. His faith and attendance to church was of utmost importance to him. He was also a member of the Chippewa Falls Senior Center, the American Legion, the DAV, and the Union Cemetery Association.

Ralph is survived by his three sons, Paul E. Schumacher of Lakewood, Wis., Mark R. (Janet) Schumacher of Coloma, Wis., and Daniel J. (Kim) Schumacher of Ladysmith, Wis.; four grandchildren, Rebecca (Adam) Holman, Matthew Schumacher, Bethany (Tyler) Keepers, and Josiah Schumacher; one great-grandson, Isaac Holman; brother, Glen (Eileen) Schumacher of Orlando, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Gloria Schumacher of Milwaukee, Wis., Mina Schumacher of Sun City, Ariz., and Freda Nehls of Marengo, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lydia; a son, Michael R. in infancy; brothers, John in WWII, Harold, Rae, and Albert; and sisters, Doris Gastlin and Margaret Nehls.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27 at Faith Lutheran Church, 733 Woodward Ave., Chippewa Falls with the Rev. William Plautz officiating. Interment will be at Countryside Union Cemetery in the town of Goetz following the lunch. Military Honors will be provided by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Faith Lutheran Church.