Maynard M. Schumacher

Maynard M. Schumacher of Columbus died Friday, June 12, 2009 at Columbus Community Hospital.

Maynard was born April 24, 1924 in Cornlea, Nebraska to Matthew and Nellie (Bender) Schumacher. He grew up on a farm near Cornlea and attended Sacred Heart Parish School.

Maynard served his country in the Navy during World War II from July, 1944 until June, 1946. He served as a motor machinist mate aboard the USS Ostara in the Pacific Theatre. He was part of a four-man team that operated the amphibious landing crafts and achieved the rank of MOMM3. He was honorably discharged in June, 1946.

Upon his return home he married Rita Belle Jarosz on November 16, 1949, at St. Michael's Church in Tarnov, Nebraska. They farmed northwest of Humphrey, Nebraska, until their retirement in 1985 when they moved to Columbus.

Maynard enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, gardening, playing cards and working with his hands. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and served as an usher in church.

He is survived by:
Wife Rita Jarosz Schumacher of Columbus
Son Paul (Michele) Schumacher of Columbus
Daughter Alice (Mark) Denton of Las Vegas, NV
Son Gene (Chris) Schumacher of Columbus
Daughter Julie (Mike) Folley of Las Vegas, NV
Daughter Annette (Jon) Barr of McLean, VA
Son Mathew (Keri-Ann) Schumacher of Humphrey
Sister-in-law Alice Schumacher of Columbus
Sister-in-law Elvina Schumacher of Omaha
Sister-in-law Ruth Schumacher of Lindsay
Sister Mildred Gronenthal of Lindsay
Brother Alvin (Mary) Schumacher of Lindsay
Brother Dale (Nel) Schumacher of Humphrey
Sister Arlene Schumacher of Columbus
Sister Joan "Bunny" Noonan of Cornlea
Sister Marlyn Schumacher of Columbus
Sister-in-law Sylvia Preister of Humphrey
14 grandchildren

He is preceded in death by:
Parents Matthew and Nellie Schumacher
Brothers Sylvester, Harold, and Gerald Schumacher
Brothers-in-law Alfred Jarosz, Arnold Jarosz, Clem Gronenthal, and Mark Noonan
Sister-in-law Laverna Jarosz

A Celebration of His Life

Maynard Matthew Schumacher was born on April 20, 1924 Easter Sunday to Nellie (Bender) and Mathew J. Schumacher on their farm near Cornlea, Nebraska. He had nine siblings: Sylvester, Harold, Gerald, Mildred, Alvin, Dale, Arlene, Bunny and Marlyn.

He graduated 8th Grade from Sacred Heart School in Cornlea and, like his brothers, stopped going to school so he could work on the farm during the Great Depression and take jobs thrashing corn (at a nickel a bushel) to help support his family.

He joined the Navy in 1944 and served as a motor machinist mate aboard the USS Ostara in the Pacific Theatre. As part of a four-man team, he operated the amphibious landing crafts known as the Higgins Boat. As a result of his Navy experience, he saw the world, met lifelong friends, and became a very disciplined person. He saw the horrors of war firsthand and came to believe war is terrible.

On November 16, 1949, he married Rita Belle Jarosz, the daughter of George and Helen (Barnas) Jarosz at St. Michael Catholic Church in Tarnov, Nebraska. They had six children, Paul, Alice, Gene, Julie, Annette and Mathew. He was a kind, gentle and caring father and his children never doubted for a minute his devotion and love.

He farmed with his brother Dale and together they also ran Schumacher Repair a farm implement business purchasing, refurbishing and selling farm equipment. When he wasnt horse trading machinery, he was busy raising crops and livestock. He never stopped working. Even after he retired in 1985, he was constantly fixing things. He said the only thing he couldnt fix was a broken heart.

By his example, he instilled in his children the importance of working hard, saving, living within ones means, and an undying devotion to God and faith. Maynard was a man of disciplined routine, going to bed early and rising with the sun. He was an intelligent man who could perform complex mathematical computations in his head. Although quiet and reserved, he had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to visit with people.

Maynard placed great importance on the value of academic accomplishment. He wanted his children to have the opportunity of education that he didnt have. He worked tirelessly and sacrificed greatly to make sure each of his children attended Catholic school and graduated from college.

He derived his greatest joy from being with his family, which has grown to include 14 grandchildren: Nicole and Kristen Schumacher; Leslie, Marianne, Jacqueline, and Patrick Denton; Lauren, Kelli, Thomas, and Megan Schumacher; Catherine Mary and Anne Barr; Simon and Joel Schumacher. No matter how close or far away his children lived, he was always there to help them at every turn. He was also a blue-chip grandfather. He loved to rock babies to sleep, feed them in their highchairs and raise them high in the air so he could tickle them and hear them squeal in
delight. Many a time he drove his grandchildren to his farm in his beloved red pick-up truck to pick strawberries, smell peonies, and ride on his little Ford Tractor.

People who knew Maynard called him the salt of the earth but his family thought of him more as gold. He was a one-in-a-million human being and the world is a better place because of his life. We were truly blessed to have him.