Steve Schomaker

Ronald Steven Schomaker was born in Spencer, Iowa on June 2, 1954 to Ronald and Phyllis (Slater)Schomaker. Steve passed away on August 29, 2025, after a cancer battle that was far from an easy journey with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Steve spent his youth living with his family and attending schools in Estherville, Rossie , Fulda, Mn and Terril, IA

Steve worked various jobs from high school on, including breaking horses, working at Eatons in Spencer, dispatched trucks for F.T.T. , Sather Candy Co, Round Lake, MN, and most recently for Daybreak Foods, Estherville as Trucking Supervisor for 25 years.

Steve was very active in the Emmet County and Clay County Fairs. 2025 would have been Steve's 49th year working for the Clay County Fair, starting out riding horses to park cars, serving as Lieutenant and then most recently serving as Assistant Chief of Security.

Steve has been an active member of the Emmet County Fair Board for 15 years. Also receiving a Friends of the Emmet County Fair award in 2018.

In the rest of his spare time, Steve enjoyed riding his four wheeler in the Black Hills with friends and family, past horse riding trips to the Hills, tractor shows with family, going for an after dinner cruise through Ft Defiance on his Harley, he loved a good Bergen steak, enjoyed caring for the neighbors yards when he was able. Papa Steve loved to get his Grandkids squealing with laughter.

When there were little kids around , Steve would relish in the sounds of them playing, or maybe the "Claw" would come out to tease a bit, but as always in typical Shoey fashion, he wasn't happy until they were wound up, especially before bed time!

As a lover of history, Steve enjoyed taking kids at the Lake for a guided tour of the Abbey Gardner cabin on the golf cart. Memories to be cherished by many.

One place that Steve truly loved visiting, was Hawaii, where he and Deb eloped in 2016. It was never too hot and there was always a nice tropical breeze. Steve has always loved the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and it would bring a big smile to his face always when we would hear it while in Hawaii or back home.

If Steve was around , you would be sure to be laughing soon, with his quick witted humor or one of his many life experiences, and there were a lot! But either way, you always knew there was going to be a story. He would be laughing right along with you with his one of a kind laugh.

Steve was always willing to lend a helping hand or do extra things for people without expecting payment or a thank you, but only to be kind.

Steve was a hard worker and he would say that he took the hard route most of the time but

he proved to be a responsible, loyal, hardworking and honest employee. To some he was known as the "Hall Monitor", as he was a stickler for abiding by the rules , and never driving a hair over 55. Steve would say he made it through life attending the school of hard knocks as life wasn't always easy, but he enjoyed the many paths through life he took.

All of us here today know, that we will always remember Steve with a smile, a laugh and for years to come, will have an Uncle Shoe story to tell!

While Steve was on his cancer journey, he was to write a sentence several times a day , which he filled in with " I Love My Family", and he did just that! His love for his wife, daughters, stepchildren, grandchildren and his siblings was one that was full of pride and he

was so happy when they were all able to be together.

Keeping his memory close at heart are his wife, Deb, daughters Stacy Hoss(Jesse) and Jennie Donnelly ( Marc) , step-children Micah Hietbrink (Alyssa), Alesha Gregg(Andrew), Kelsey Shatto(Jake) and Seth Shatto( Kristian). 15 Grandchildren, Paige and Sam Donnelly, Madelyn and Ryan Hoss , Emma, Annika, Clara, Raeya, Kyla, Eagen, Lennex, and Navaeh Hietbrink, Annabelle and Amelia Gregg and Scottie Shatto.

Siblings Dale Schomaker, Polly Charlton, Murray Schomaker (Dode) Susan Phillips (Mark), Penny Ruge , Jo-Dee Schomaker (Peri), in-laws, Denise Nicholson (Jim) Todd Davis, long time and best friend Brent Shatto(Tera)and family and many countless family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ron and Phyllis. Infant son, Jeramiah. In-laws, Leonard and Carol Kuester, and Robert Engel Sister-in-law, Cindy, Brother-in-law Pat Charlton, and his best friend, Larry Shatto.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Emmet County Fair.