Obituary of Charles Schumann

Dear Friends and Family of Charles Henry Schumann, Sr.,

We have had to change our plans from a public visitation and funeral to all private arrangements.

We completely trust that God is in control, and this is just another beautiful example of His mercy in our lives. This necessary change of plans will make Dad’s passing and burial easier for our dear mother to bear.

We appreciate your prayers; we are so grateful for your concern.

We are all okay!

This is for the best… and, we all agree, there is a just a comfort in believing that knows Dad too, and he is still helping us to look out for our mother's best interest and well-being.  So, we are to have a much quieter family visitation and a private funeral Mass, complete with our family priest as the celebrant.

Please pray for us as we, and Fr. Armentrout prepare to offer this beautiful Mass for our dad.

With many thanks, 
The Schumann Children

 

Charles Henry Schumann, Sr., was born to Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Steinkamp) on April 11, 1941, in their home in Moberly, Missouri. He was the middle child between his surviving older sister, Dorothy (Woodward), and younger brother Pete.

Charles was an altar server during his Catholic grade school years and later attended Moberly High School and Moberly Junior College (now known as MACC) and graduated in 1960. Charles enlisted in the United States Army during the early onset of the Vietnam War. He served in the Signal Corps. He was stationed in Germany, when he sustained a service-related illness and subsequent onset of life-long kidney disease. He returned stateside and completed his service while continuing to recover.

Charles began working on the family farm with his brother when their father retired. Before joining the army, Charles had met miss Rhonda Lutz, who would one day become his bride. Rhonda was living with her family in a farm home that was rented to them by Charles’ parents. Later, after the Lutzes relocated, the two families remained in contact. Through a memorable series of events, Charles and Rhonda were reunited following his military service. It was on September 25, 1965, that Charles and Rhonda were united in the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Pius X Church in Moberly. The happy couple moved to the rental home where Rhonda and her family had previously lived. Charles renovated the old farm house, and he and Rhonda made it their own home place. During those years, they were blessed with five children: Theresa, Chuck, Michael, Willie, and Sarah. They continued living in their home place well after the children had grown. Later, Charles built Rhonda a new home along East Highway 24, where their children, grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren, have gathered almost every weekend since to share some of the happiest and most memorable days of their lives. Charles continued farming his land until it was time to pass the manual labor aspect of his life to the next generation.

Throughout Charles’ life, he experienced many miracles, surviving the loss of one of his kidneys and later receiving a transplant for his remaining kidney. He endured an aortic heart valve replacement, as well as multiple, nearly-tragic farming accidents over the years. Due to bone, joint, and spinal deterioration, and other medical complications, he suffered chronic pain. In spite of the pain, Charles was grateful for his life and did not complain. Relying on his faith through every situation, Charles understood fully that he was indeed blessed with a miraculous life.

Following a fall in his home, Charles was taken to the Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. On Thursday, September 9, in a very weakened state, it was there that he suffered a heart attack and was unresponsive with no pulse for an undetermined amount of time. Yet another miracle occurred as the medical team performed CPR, and he was resuscitated. He was given precious remaining hours during which he was able to receive the Apostolic Pardon and to see his wife, children and their spouses, and nearly all of his surviving grandchildren. He entered into Eternal Life peacefully, surrounded by his wife, Rhonda, his five children, and his priest-grandson, Fr. Armentrout.

During his life, Charles held a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the daily praying of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Pius X Catholic Parish in Moberly. He was a Third Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Council 995 and was also involved in prison ministry, Cursillo Movement, and a men’s prayer group. Throughout most of his life, Charles shared the beautiful gift of his musical talent as a song leader at Mass, and in various other settings. A skilled carpenter, savvy businessman, and generous benefactor to his family, friends, and community, Charles glorified our Lord by simply and humbly farming the ground and raising his family. On weekends, he was a skilled pitcher at the family kickball games held in the front yard and could not lose at checkers. He was hard to beat at pool and ping-pong. He was an avid outdoorsman and passed on his love of hunting and fishing to his family. He had a tremendous sense of humor and enjoyed good-natured teasing and bantering with his family at the dinner table, which was one of his favored places to visit with others, throughout the entirety of his life.

Charles is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and his beloved dog Coco, of the home; his children, Theresa and Tim Armentrout (Salisbury); Chuck and Andrea Schumann (Moberly); Michael and Johnna Schumann (Jacksonville); Willie and Mercia Schumann (Jacksonville), and Sarah and Kyley Mefford (Moberly). Charles is also survived by seventeen grandchildren: Lindsey (Troy) Skinner, Alaina, Fr. Benjamin, and Luke Armentrout, Mitch (Camille) Schumann, Austin (Madilyn) Schumann, Evan, Jackson, and Lane Schumann, Matthew, Dillon, and Brandon Schumann, Tyler (Cindy) Schumann, and Cassie Schumann, Hannah (Ramón “Rico”) Hernandez, Rebekah, and Aliciah Mefford. Also surviving are eight great-grandchildren: Aubrie, Raelynn, and Gavin Skinner, Rosalie and Ellie Schumann, Henry Schumann, Koda Schumann, and Greyson Schumann. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and three grandchildren: Megan Schumann, Darik Schumann, and Kimmie Schumann.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 11:00 am, on the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross.  Interment with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Moberly.  Visitation will be held Monday, September 13, 2021 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home. There will be a Rosary led by Fr. Armentrout beginning at 7:00 pm.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Pius X Catholic Church, St. Pius X Catholic School or to any entity that honors and supports veterans and military service members and their families.

Condolences may be shared online at pathwaymemorial.com.