LaVerne M. Schumacher
LaVerne Mary Schumacher, age 92, of Chilton, died on Monday, July 31, 2017 at Century Ridge Assisted Living in Chilton. She was born March 19, 1925 in Appleton, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Mathias and Maryann (Biederwolf) Fochs.
LaVerne went to school through the eighth grade before her family needed her help on their farm. It wasn’t long after that when the United States entered World War II and America needed women to join the workforce. LaVerne went to Milwaukee and became a welder for Lakeside Bridge and Steel, helping build ships. She married her late husband, Gilbert Schumacher, on June 7, 1944 and they raised four children while working on their family farm. LaVerne later became involved in working the polling stations during elections.
LaVerne was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hilbert and a 50 year member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, including time as Chief Ranger. When the church found out she had taken piano lessons since she was seven years old, they recruited her to play organ for them. LaVerne was their organist for 63 years before handing over the duties. Outside of her church, LaVerne enjoyed doing word searches and loved to go bowling. She practiced the lessons learned during the Great Depression throughout her life – growing her own vegetables in her garden and acting as her family’s seamstress.
Survivors include her children: Mathias Schumacher (special friend, Irene), Bob Schumacher, Wanda Nett (special friend, Barry), and Susan (Kenneth) Lemke; her grandchildren: Jenny Schumacher, Mike (Mindy) Schumacher, Rachael Schumacher, J. Michael (Samantha) Schwobe, Terri (Terry) Russell, Adam Nett (fiancé, Samantha), Craig Lemke, Connie Lemke, and Brian (Sarah) Lemke; her brothers: Alfred (Lorrie) Fochs, Howard Fochs, Mathias (Patricia) Fochs, and Arthur (Susan) Fochs; her sisters: Rita Burns, and Nancy Diedrich; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
LaVerne was preceded in death by her husband: Gilbert Schumacher; her parents, Mathias Fochs and Maryann Kampa; her sister: Lucille (Harold) Van Haren; step-brother: Carl (Bernice) Kampa; brother-in-law: William Parsons; and a sister-in-law: Rosalyn Fochs.
Funeral service will be at 11:00am on Monday, August 7, 2017, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (108 S. 6th St.) in Hilbert. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hilbert. Friends may call at the Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main St.) in Chilton from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Sunday, August 6, 2017, and again on Monday from 10:00am to 10:45am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hilbert. A prayer service will take place Sunday evening at the close of visitation.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to all of the staff at Century Ridge and the Calumet County Hospice for all of the care given to LaVerne and the family.