Schuster, Orville 1933-2006

SCHUSTER, REITH, LECHTENBERG

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/16/2010 at 16:22:47

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, July 24, 2006

Orville Schuster, 73, of Le Mars, died Sunday, July 23, 2006, at his residence after a lengthy illness.

Orville was born Feb. 23, 1933, on the family farm in the Remsen area, the son of Joe and Helen (Reith) Schuster. He attended a country school for several years and then transferred to St. Joseph's school in Granville where he graduated from high school in 1951. After graduation he helped rebuild the Sioux City Stockyards following the flood of 1951. He then worked for Crouse Cartage Company, the trucking arm of IBP. He also worked for Klein Trucking and Arens Trucking in Remsen.

He married Norma Jean Lechtenberg on Nov. 4, 1953, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Granville. He was drafted into the service Nov. 18, 1953. He spent two years in Korea. He received an honorable discharge on Sept. 15, 1955. After returning home from the service he worked for Gilmore Grain Company of Le Mars.

Orville purchased his first truck in 1956 and formed Schuster Grain Company. At the time of his death, he was CEO of Schuster Company of Le Mars. As an entrepreneur he formed many businesses throughout the area, including transportation companies, grain elevators, truck stops, paper and plastic recycling, dry and cold storage warehouses and a mobile home park.

Orville was a lifetime member of St. James Catholic Church, The American Legion, Wasmer Post #241, Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club Aerie 1381, Catholic Order of Foresters and Iowa Better Trucking Bureau.

Survivors include his wife, Norma Jean of Le Mars; four children: Christy Robison of St. Petersburg, Fla., Steve and Danna Schuster of Le Mars, Connie Schuster of Ellenton, Fla., and Cindy Sherwood of Tierra Verde, Fla.; two grandchildren: Victoria Robison of Lincoln, Neb., and Brad Robison of St. Petersburg, Fla.; two sisters, Tudy and Mark Plathe and Marlene and Brian Kuiper, all of Granville; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews and a special friend, Connie Walsted of Le Mars.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Hilary and Robert who died in infancy.

Mass of Christian burial will at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church with the Rev. Jim Tigges officiating. Internment will be at Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion.

Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church of Le Mars, with a parish rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. The family will be present from 5 to 7 p.m. The Feuerstein Funeral Home of Le Mars is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Joe Arens, Jerry Arens, Paul Fletcher, Dick Hall, Larry Weber and Walt Kleinhesselink.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to Gehlen Catholic School Endowment Fund.