Donald “Don” A. Schumacher

Obituary

Donald “Don” Albert Schumacher was born on July 13 1927, at Bethany Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was baptized as an infant on July 18, 1927 by Rev. Glabe at Lutheran Children Home in Minneapolis. Don was adopted by Adolph and Agnes (Strehlke) Schumacher on October 30, 1930, in Hollywood Township, New Germany, Minnesota. He attended grade school and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth at St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Germany. He attended high school in Watertown, Minnesota, and was a graduate of the Watertown High School Class of 1945.

Don entered active military service in the United States Army on September 25, 1945, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and served his country in Germany. He received an Honorable Discharge on October 11, 1948, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

On May 1, 1951, Don was united in marriage to Arlene Brueggemeier at St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Germany. This marriage was blessed with four children, Steve, Jeff, Rebecca, and James. Don and Arlene resided in Watertown and Blue Earth, Minnesota. They later moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota. Don and Arlene shared 72 years of marriage.

Don worked at Waconia Bottling Soft Drinks. He then owned and operated a milk can route, hauling to Twin City Creamery in Watertown. In 1954, Don was employed with Funk Brothers Seed Company of Belle Plaine, Iowa and Bloomington, Illinois, as a District Sales Manager servicing Southwest Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Montana. After he retired in 1984, Don worked part-time for Anderson Interior and Linder Bus Company. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. He was also a member of the Our Savior’s School Board and Our Savior’s Trustee Board. Don was a volunteer at the McLeod County Historical Society in Hutchinson.

Don enjoyed watching golf, reading, and spending time with his coffee buddies solving the world’s problems. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Don passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at Hutchinson Health in Hutchinson, at the age of 96 years.

Blessed be his memory.

Don is survived by his:
Wife, Arlene Schumacher of Hutchinson, MN;
Sons, Steve Schumacher of El Segundo, CA,
Jeff Schumacher and his wife, Linda of Lester Prairie, MN;
Step-Grandchildren, Nicole Snavely and her husband, Corey of Woodbury, MN,
Samantha Lind and her husband, Doug of Glencoe, MN;
Step-Great-grandchildren, Hunter Lemke and his wife, Grace, Keegan Lemke, Lydia Lemke;
Sister, Betty Born of Waconia, MN;
Sisters-in-law, Diane Swanson and her husband, John of Annandale, MN,
Audrey Brueggemeier of New Germany, MN,
Mary Sloan and her husband, Frank of Watertown, MN;
Many other relatives and friends.

Don is preceded in death by his Parents, Adolph and Agnes Schumacher; Children, Rebecca and James in-infancy; Father and Mother-in-law, Emil and Lydia Brueggemeier; Brothers-in-law, Orville Brueggemeier, Roger Brueggemeier, Hilton Born; Nephew, David Born.