Ralph Schumacher

Platte Center -- Ralph Schumacher, 94, of Platte Center, died Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at Fountain View Village in Fountain Hills, AZ. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday December 28, 2018 at the Saints Simon and Jude Roman Catholic Cathedral in Phoenix. Interment will be held at Saint Patrick's Cemetery, in Platte Center, Nebraska. A family reunion and celebration of Ralph's life is being planned for the summer of 2019 in Platte Center, Nebraska.

Ralph was born September 20, 1924 in Platte Center, to Frank and Margaret (Bender) Schumacher. He graduated from Platte Center High School in 1942. He served in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.

Ralph married Alma Marie Vanderheiden of Humphrey, Nebraska in 1948, a marriage of over 70 years. They lived in Platte Center until retiring in Arizona in 2015. Ralph was a life-long member of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Club. Ralph enjoyed card playing with friends, going to movies, bowling, reading newspapers and drives in the country with Alma. He really liked telling jokes and stories to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ralph and his brother Matt in 1957 were co-founders of Schumacher Irrigation, Inc. Brothers LeRoy and Carl joined them in the business later.

Early in Ralph's life he farmed with his father on the family farm. To supplement his farming income he sold advertising specialties like calendars, book matches and ball point pens. Ralph and his brother LeRoy formed a mail order ball point pen business selling pens to high schools with their sports schedules on them.

Ralph is survived by his wife Alma, son Mick, his daughters Bobbi (Tim) Weiss, Connie (Gary) Novak and Cindy (Phil) Robinson, twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, brother Matt (Thelma), and sister-in-law, Bonnie Schumacher.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers LeRoy and Carl, infant sisters Lorraine and Ramona, and sister-in-law Alvina Schumacher.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Danny Thomas Saint Jude Children's Hospital.