Norbert Schaekel

Norbert Schaekel, 89, Decatur, passed away Tuesday morning, Aug. 21, 2018, at Parkview Hospital-Randallia in Fort Wayne. He was born in Preble Township in Adams County May 13, 1929, to Herman and Edna (Wefel) Schaekel. Norbert married Mary Ann Ewel at St. Paul Lutheran Church-Preble Aug. 31, 1952; she preceded him in death April 11, 2015.
He was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church-Preble, where he was an ambassador for the Lutheran Layman's League (LLL) for more than 10 years. Norbert also attended many conventions for both LLL and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Synodical in Detroit, Pittsburg, Houston and St. Louis; and many district conventions in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
Norbert was a 1948 graduate of Concordia High School in Fort Wayne. He then went on to continue his education and received his BA from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1952; his BS from Concordia-River Forest in 1956; and his Masters from Ball State University.
He first taught in a one-room school in Bear Creek, Wisconsin, for nine years. He then taught at St. John Lutheran School in Buckley, Illinois, for 13 years before becoming principal at Wyneken Lutheran School for 17 years, retiring in 1991. Following his retirement, he delivered 781 RVs for Don Ray Drive-A-Way throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Norbert and Mary Ann, before her passing, loved gardening. They would share their harvest of food with the Fort Wayne Lutheran Seminary and were known for their generosity to others in the area, too. Norbert also still enjoyed traveling, filling his year with visits to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their activities.
Among survivors are two sons, Bert (Joan) Schaekel and Kirk Schaekel; four daughters, Diane (Benjamin) Brown, Connie Schaekel, Annette (Scott) Seitz and Beth (Mohsen) Karimi; sister, Sharon (Herb) Banning Jr.; brother, Herman (Dawn) Schaekel; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Lynn Myron Schaekel, in infancy.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church-Preble, with Rev. Daniel Dahling officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery-Preble.
Visitation will be from 9-10:45 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church-Preble.
Preferred memorials are to St. Paul Lutheran Church-Preble; Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Fort Wayne; Worship Anew; or the Lutheran Layman's League.
Online condolences may be made at www.zwickjahn.com.