Scheider, Maurice George "Maury" 1920-2020

SCHEIDER, SCHNEIDER, METTAM

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

Mr. Maurice “Maury” Scheider, age 100, of Orange City, passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at the Orange City Area Health System.

There will be a funeral service on Monday, February 24, at 11:00am, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City. The Rev. Dr. Brian Janssen will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation with the family will be on Monday from 10:00am to 11:00am, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Maurice George was born on February 17, 1920, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of the Rev. George Edward Scheider, a Methodist minister, and Florence Julia (Schneider) Scheider. He spent the majority of his childhood in small town Iowa, moving frequently due to his Dad’s occupation. Maury graduated from Ireton High School in 1937, and Morningside College in 1941, with a degree in Physics. While in college, he learned to dance and earned his pilot’s rating at Graham Field in North Sioux City, hoping to join the Air Force. However, his dream was not to be due to vision restrictions and the need for his expertise elsewhere. After graduating from college, he was recruited by the Glen L. Martin Company, Baltimore, Maryland, as an Aerospace Engineer, designing bombers during World War II.

In 1941, he moved to Baltimore and rented a room in a row house that happened to be next door to his future wife, Mary Edna Mettam. It was love at first sight; they were married on December 5, 1942. Together they made their home in Baltimore, Middle River, and Bel Air, all in Maryland. Their move to Middle River gave Maury the opportunity to take up fishing and duck hunting as a member of the Marco Hunting and Fishing Club. His love of flying continued, and he joined the Civil Air Patrol.

The couple moved to Bel Air in 1956, where Maury became interested in sailing, building sailboats, and teaching his daughters how to sail. He joined the Bush River Yacht Club serving as Power Squadron Commander during the 1960’s and 1970’s. After leaving the Martin Company, he took jobs with the Army in Systems Analysis and Army Intelligence. Many weekends were spent with his family at the Yacht Club. Rides in his vintage aerobatic airplane, figure skating at the local roller rink, ballroom dancing in the living room, and church attendance, followed by dinner and drives on back country roads were common activities for the family. The annual two-week family vacation to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was always the highlight of summer vacations.

After retirement from the Army, Maury and Mary moved to Orange City to be closer to their daughter and family. The small-town atmosphere, coupled with the return to Maury’s roots, allowed them to enjoy their retirement near their family. They always looked forward to actively participating in the annual Tulip Festival in May. Maury also volunteered at the Kings Engineering Fellowship – Angel Aircraft in Orange City. He and Mary were members of the First Reformed Church in Orange City, and later, the First Presbyterian Church in Hospers. He, along with his daughter, Laura, have been strong supporters of the PCA’s Metanoia Ministry Program in Sioux, O’Brien, and Dakota County jails. During his lifetime, Maury found much pleasure hanging out in his workshop, building model airplanes and train layouts, painting, and doing woodcarving. However, above all, he was a family man, totally committed to his wife, children and grandchildren. His beloved wife, Mary, passed away in 2011.

Survivors include his two daughters, Laura, and her husband, Fred Van Schepen, and Joyce Scheider, all of Orange City; a granddaughter, Amanda DeJong, of Orange City; a grandson and his wife, Marshall and Kayla Van Schepen, of Sioux Center; five great-grandchildren, Hunter and Everett DeJong, and Gavin, Brantley and Emalyn Van Schepen; a sister-in-law, Ruth Mettam, of Baltimore; a brother-in-law and his wife, Ron and Carol Mettam, of Vero Beach, Florida; and special friends, Cam and Kimberly Sue Kuchel, and Dean and Linda Schroeder, all of Remsen.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Robert Mettam and Allan Mettam.

Memorials may be directed to the Metanoia Prison Ministries.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.