Schuman, William Richard "Dick" 1927 - 2020
SCHUMAN, HERMAN, BADER, NIELSEN, HICKOK
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46
U.S. Veteran
W.R. “Dick” Schuman, age 92, of Decorah, Iowa, died Saturday night, January 11, 2020 at Wellington Place in Decorah.Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2020 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah in the spring with military honors.
Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 15 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m., one hour before the service, at First United Methodist Church.
William Richard “Dick” Schuman was born on September 8, 1927 in Quasqueton, Iowa, the son of Ralph and Nellie (Herman) Schuman. Both his parents died when he was young so he was raised by his grandparents in Independence, Iowa. He dropped out of high school at age 17 to join the U.S. Navy in 1944 during World War II where he worked as a radio operator on Carrier USS CVE Salerno Bay in the South Pacific. He later received his GED in 1947 and then graduated from Gates Business College in Waterloo in 1952.
Dick was united in marriage to Beverly “Bev” Bader on May 1st, 1947 at the Methodist Church in Independence, Iowa. This union was blessed with two children, Bruce and Rebecca.
Dick started working for Goodyear in 1952. He moved with his family 12 times all across Iowa before settling in Decorah in 1964. Here he started Decorah Tire Service in partnership with Vern Billiet. They also started up Waukon Tire Center in 1971 and together, along with Bev’s help, ran and operated both businesses. Dick retired in 1989 and after doing so, continued to stay busy by driving all over for local auto dealerships and taking cancer patients to their out of town appointments. He also continued to stop by Decorah Tire almost daily to visit, have a cup of coffee, and take the shop’s mail to the post office until he was no longer able to do so.
Dick and Bev loved to travel. They took numerous trips abroad and wintered in Arizona and Texas for many years. Dick had many different hobbies over the years with the biggest being his gardens and sharing all his bountiful produce with many others. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, walking, playing cards, telling jokes, and being in numerous coffee groups. In later years when he could no longer garden, he took up making homemade applesauce to share with his great-grandchildren and others. He was proud and honored to go on an Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. in 2009. He also enjoyed watching all sports, especially baseball. He was beyond overjoyed when the Cubs finally won it all in 2016.
Dick was a very hard working and religious man whose number one priority was his family. He was a very proud and supportive father, grandfather, and great grandfather who loved his family dearly. He was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church, the VFW, and the Elks Club.
Dick is survived by one son, Bruce (Betty) Schuman of Decorah; three grandchildren: Jarod (Rachel) Schuman of Decorah, Jeff (Heather) Schuman of River Falls, WI, and Joelle (Jared) Nielsen of Decorah; nine great-grandchildren: Kennadi, Kelbi, and Kooper Schuman, Aliya, Caden and Aubree Schuman, and Maci, Kai and Mia Nielsen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Bernadine Hickok; his wife, Beverly Schuman on March 10, 2015; and his daughter, Rebecca Schuman on November 1, 2006.
Dicks’ family would like to give special thanks to the staffs at the Arlin Falck Assisted Living, Wellington Place, Winneshiek Medical Center (especially Dr. Wenner), and Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice. A very special thank you to Pastors Mee Kang and Jim Dale for all their care and support over the last few years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to WMC Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or Barthell Eastern Star Home, 911 Ridgewood Drive, Decorah, IA 52101.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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