Joseph Anthony "Joe" Schimmer 1931 - 2008

SCHIMMER, ERLEMEIER, HILDEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/3/2013 at 21:43:51

1 October 2008
Joseph Schimmer 1931 - 2008

Joseph Anthony "Joe" Schimmer was born on January 6, 1931, in Danbury, IA, the 10th child to Henry and Katherine (Erlemeier) Schimmer. He was a 1950 graduate of St Patrick's High School in Danbury.

With the Korean war on, Joe anticipated a call to service and enlisted in the Marines. Before he could report, he suffered a broken collarbone in a car accident, and the Marines deferred his enlistment. Meanwhile, he was drafted by the Army. The Army sent him to Camp McCoy in Sparta, WI, for training. While there, he met his future wife, Helen Hilden of LaCrosse, WI, at a USO dance. Joe served in Korea from 1952 to 1953. After being discharged from the Army he returned to LaCrosse and married Helen on October 24, 1953. They made their home in nearby Onalaska, WI, and had two children, Erik and Teri.

Joe was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in LaCrosse.

He was employed for 40 years by the gas department of Northern States Power Company. He began his career as a pipe fitter and spent the last several years as the gas "troubleshooter" which he enjoyed very much. Because of the years he spent making service calls around the area, he had an uncanny knowledge of the region and could tell you the location of every street, road and alley. He was known for his safe driving record and skill in maneuvering large trailers into small spaces. He retired from NSP in 1995 and shortly thereafter hired onto a part-time job as a driver for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. He spent 10 years with the Sisters before retiring again in 2005. He devoted his later years to fishing and spending time with his wife and grandchildren. In 2007, he and Helen moved to Ozark, AL, to live with their son Erik, daughter-in-law Laura, and family, who provided excellent care as his health declined.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; son, Erik (Laura) Schimmer of Ozark; daughter, Teri Wildt of LaCrosse; and grandchildren, Craig, Erika, and Mark Schimmer and Andy Wildt. He is further survived by his sisters, Loretta Landrum of Oregon and Rosina Corum of California, along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Alfred and Charles; and sisters Silvina Schrunk, Helena, Pauline Eberhart, and Mary Delores Berg.

He will be laid to rest in Ozark, Alabama.