Richard Schuman, 87 years old, passed away on Tuesday, December 8. He was born and raised in St. Leon, IN, as the youngest of eleven children. Richard was married to the love of his life, Pat McCann Schuman, for 64 years and both were blessed with seven children. Their families knew one another from growing up in neighboring towns. Immediately after graduating from Guilford High School, he joined the Air Force and was assigned to McGhee-Tyson Air Force Base in Maryville, Tennessee. During his service, he was a mechanic on the F-86D Sabre fighter jets used widely during the Korean War. During his time in the military, he began dating Pat, and they were married shortly before he completed his four-year enlistment. He was discharged with a rank of staff sergeant. After his service, Richard took a job as a service manager with an International Harvester dealership in Montgomery, Ohio, where his fondness for International Harvesters grew from when he was a child. He always joked, “If it ain’t red, leave it in the shed.” Richard was then employed at Schroeder Sales and Service in Harrison, Ohio, and also serviced small engines such as tractors and mowers in his own garage. He worked on everyone’s equipment and could fix just about anything. People would come from miles around, including some of his Cincinnati customers, because they did not trust anyone but Richard to work on their equipment. One of his proudest accomplishments was restoring a 1939 Chevrolet, a family car that was wrecked and abandoned in a field of their farm. Richard could be seen driving his ’39 at his children’s weddings, pole raising parades, and car shows.
As a Veteran, Richard was active in St. Joseph American Legion Post 464. He participated in funeral honor guard, Memorial Day celebrations, and visited the VA to entertain veterans with his fellow legion members. He was a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds and NASCAR, especially his camping trips to Talladega. He loved watching Western movies and Hallmark Christmas shows. Richard and Pat loved traveling to Gatlinburg and the Smokies, an area he grew to love during his time in the military. In his later years, Richard followed an enjoyable routine. He would say the Rosary every morning and then go to either Alig’s Shell for his cherry danish, or to BP for his donuts, and gathered with his local friends. Not a bad way to start each day.
Richard will be deeply missed by his wife, Pat; children Cliff (Paula) Schuman of Greensburg; Marilyn (David) White of St. Leon; Connie (Ron) Hornbach of New Alsace; Joan Schuman of Corbin, KY; Rick (Betty) Schuman of Cary, NC; John (Dana) Schuman of New Alsace; and Regina (Pete) Kamos of Lebanon, TN; 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; siblings Walter (Mary) Schuman; Joe (Martha) Schuman; and sister-in-law Shirley Schuman. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph G. and Rose B. Schuman, brothers Lawrence, William, and Harold, and sisters Viola Andres, Matilda Bischoff, Frances Andres, Loretta Bihr, and Alberta Mergenthal.
A funeral service for Richard will be held on Saturday, December 12 at All Saints Parish, St. Joseph Campus, St. Leon. The service will begin with Rosary at 9:45am, followed by visitation from 10:00am -11:30am, and Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00pm with Father Jonathan Meyer presiding. Burial will immediately follow. Memorials can be made for Masses, Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, and All Saints Parish, St. Joseph Campus Maintenance Fund. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or by mailing to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the guestbook and offer online condolences.
In compliance with the Governor’s mandate regarding COVID-19, please remember the social distancing guidelines and the wearing of masks inside the church. To comply with Dearborn County guidelines, only 25 attendants will be allowed into the visitation at a time. Funeral home staff will be assisting with this so that everyone has a chance to pay their respects in a safe and reverent manner. Mass attendance will remain at 150 people and will also be lived streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily.