John Schooler
January 20, 1923 ~ December 29, 2009
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 2, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Don Watt officiating. Visitation was 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 1, 2010 at the Luce Funeral Home in Gettysburg. Burial will be 12:30 p.m., MST, Monday, January 4, 2010 at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis.
John was born January 20, 1923 in Brookings, SD to Harry and Theresa Schooler. He grew up on a ranch near Faith, SD and attended Cooper School #2. The family moved to Washington, DC and he graduated from Washington Lee at Arlington, VA. He moved back to South Dakota and enrolled in Brookings State College in 1941.
He enlisted with the Army of the United States in 1943 and served at the battalion message center in New Guinea and the Philippines until January 1946. He returned to Brookings and completed his college education in 1949. He went to work for the Farmers Home Administration with the Department of Agriculture and served for 35 years, retiring as District Director. While serving in Winner, SD, he met and married Noan Idona Nelson on December 18, 1954. Shortly after, they moved to Gettysburg, SD where they settled and made their home for over 50 years.
John was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Ionic Masonic Lodge No. 83, the American Legion Post, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was president of the Gettysburg Rotary Club. He chaired fundraising drives for the Boy Scouts of America and belonged to NARFE. He was a charter member and past president of the Gettysburg Country Club and served for two terms as Mayor of Gettysburg.
John was an avid golfer, hunter, fisherman, and gardener. He enjoyed reading, singing, dancing and spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years; two children, Glenda (Bruce) Reemts of Mandan, ND and Greg of Minneapolis, MN; three grandchildren, Amanda (Ryan) Gartner, Kyle Reemts, and Brittany Reemts and her fiancé; two great-grandchildren Emmy Garter and Camden Reemts-Layawen. He is also survived by three sisters, Enid Raph, Rosemary (George) Palmer, and Hannah Jean (Robert) Foreman; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Elaine Speith.
He will be remembered as a loving and kind husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with his arrangements.
CLERGY
Pastor Don Watt
MASONIC SERVICES BY
Delbert Ripley
CASKETBEARERS
Kyle Reemts
Bob Houck
Kerry Larson
Dana Vail
Dan Beringer
Larry Madsen
USHER
Bernie Webb
ORGANIST
Donna Hanson
VOCALIST
Mona Beringer
"Going Home"
"Take My Hand Precious Lord"
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
"Go Now In Peace"
INTERMENT
12:30p.m. MST, Monday January 4, 2010
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, South Dakota
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
My deepest sympathy to all of John’s family. Have known him from when he was in the FHA office.
Sincerely,
Marcelline Hunnel
Dear family;
I worked for FmHa also and although I did not work directly under John, I knew him from various State mtgs/Conferences.
He was a real gentleman and took the time to take an interest in us younger folks and tried to help us/encourage us in doing our job.
Our sincere condolences,
Ron Freesemann
Noan, Glenda and Greg, So sorry to hear of John’s death. He was such a neat man. Hold his memories close to your heart and enjoy them. Della Schumacher
Glenda, Greg and Family,
So sorry to hear about your fathers passing. It’s good to remember all of the fun and happy memories that we had growing up in Gettysburg with your family and ours. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Sue
My sympathy in the death of your husband and father. I work in Spiritual Care at GMC where he and your mother were residents for a time. He was such a delightful gentleman and a great singer. He had such an outstanding voice, which we deeply appreciated at our various services. We felt his loss when they moved to ND and feel it again now with his death. God bless each of you. Pat Rausch, Spiritual Care @ GMC