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Benton County Star Press; Nov. 1976
E. J. Schmuecker, Agricultural Leader, Dies
Ervin J. Schmuecker
Ervin J. Schmuecker, 68, rural Marengo, farmer and cattleman, who devoted much of his life towards the improvement of agriculture, died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1976, in University hospitals, Iowa City. He first entered Marengo Memorial hospital, was transfered to Iowa City Oct. 27 where he died of a massive brain hemorrhage.
A requiem mass was said for Schmuecker in St. Patrick's Catholic church, Watkins, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, with the Rev. Albert Hoffman officiating. Interment was in St. Patrick's and St. Paul's cemetery, Watkins.
Pallbearers were South Slope Telephone board members Donald Erger, Robert Sonka, Lumir Biederman, Robert Wodstrchill, George Neitderhisar and Delbert Frese. Honorary pallbearers were Otis Tuttle, Wayne Edmundson, Dr. Robert DeBaca and D. H. Zentmire.
Music at the mass was by Robert Frese, Mrs. Edwar Gibney, with Mrs. Opal Becker as organist.
Ervin Joseph Schmuecker was born Apr. 4, 1908 in Van Horne, a son of Henry Schmuecker and Rose Schmidt Schmuecker. He married Hazelle Keir June 21, 1932 in Sac City.
Schmuecker graduated in 1931 from Iowa State university, Ames, and was a member of Theta Delta Chi social fraternity...
He was first president of Iowa Beef ImprovementAssociation, president of Iowa Angus and Hawkeye Angus associations, and was named Iowa Mater Farmer in 1963...
Schmuecker served as first and only secretary to South Slope Telepone Company, Norway, had been county extension director of Pocahontas county and was a prioneer of rural electrification in Iowa. He was a judge at many fairs including the Iowa State fair, county fairs and 4-H shows.
A 4-H leader for 25 years, Schmuecker was the first leader of W and W Feeders 4-H club formed in Iowa county in 1947...
He was named an honorable Iowa county 4-H member in 1958.
Schmuecker, who raised Angus cattle...followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming a well known cattleman.
His portrait will be hung in the new agriculture building at Iowa State university... He was nationally recognized as the breeder of Pinehurst Angus cattle.
The Schmuecker family shared his honors and were named...outstanding farm family in 1946 by WMT.
He is survived by his wife, Hazelle, two sons, Thomas, Independence, and James, Marengo; a daughter, Mrs. Daryl (Kathryn) Dochterman, Lexington, Ky., and 11 grandchildren, Karl, Joseph, John, Eric, Barry, Susan, Mark, Joan and Nancy Schmuecker and Suzanne and Tonya Dochterman. He is also survived by his brother, Raphael (Ray), Phoenix, Ariz., and sister, Celeste Kemler, Ada, Okla.
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