John Edward Cummings 1934-2010

CUMMINGS SCHNEIDERMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/18/2011 at 14:59:08

Sioux Cty Journal
26 December 2010

SIOUX CITY -- John Edward Cummings, 76, formerly of Sioux City died Dec. 15, 2010, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were held Dec. 17, in Sioux Falls.

John was born Oct. 6, 1934, in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, to Alton "Pal" and Lola Cummings. John gained his love of working with his hands and not being afraid to try anything from his dad, who was a tinner and a jack of all trades. John first served in the U.S. Army Reserves, then went to regular Army, where he earned his general education diploma to finish high school.

While on leave from El Paso, Texas, he was a pit man for Kenny Gagdon, where he flirted with a young lady by the name of Nancy Schneiderman from Sioux Falls. It was love at first sight; that was 54 years ago on Aug. 12, 1956. After John served his country, he and Nancy moved to Sioux Falls to start their family.

He went to work for Raven Industries in May 1957, and retired January 1999. He started out on the balloon tables, built boxes for shipping the balloons, then built sewing machine tables for the new sewing department. He became the sewing machine mechanic for the commercial sewing department and the surrounding plants in the state of South Dakota from 1967 to 1989. The last 10 years of his career, he worked in the machine shop.

He liked going camping with the family. He loved hunting, fishing, archery and made his own black powder guns and reloaded his brass. He made his own bow from scratch and love shooting it in the backyard. During his retirement, he became an avid wood carver at the Active Generations and was a member of the S.D. Wood Carvers.

John and Nancy had four children, three daughters and a son; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was a great husband, a wonderful father, a loving grandfather and great-grandfather. A good, hard worker and friend. If one of his children was doing a home project, he was there pitching in, no matter how far he had to travel. He was a quiet, reserved man, with a sharp wit. During his last months, he always had a positive attitude, he had made his peace.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; three daughters, Connie (Mike) Hagenbuch of Colman, S.D., Jean (Jon) DeVries of Williston, N.D., and Heather (Terry) Tieszen of Humbolt, S.D.; his son's wife, Sandy Cummings of Brandon, S.D.; and his brother, Ron (Frances) Cummings of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alton "Pal" and Lola Cummings; a brother, Roger Cummings; and his son, John Dean Cummings.

We are here to celebrate his life, not his death. John accomplished a lot in his life time. He might not be well known, but he certainly was well loved by those who did know him.