Gerald Schumacher

WORLAND, Wyo. - Jerry "Shoe" Schumacher, 59-year-old Worland resident, passed away at the Billings Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, following a short but courageous battle with cancer.

 Shoe was born on Sept. 23, 1952, in Columbus to William Omer and Louise Rose (Dorr) Schumacher.  He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up and received his education in St. Edward.

 He farmed for a short time and worked at a variety of jobs, but always came back to working as a mechanic.  He had a knack for fixing machinery and making things run. 

He married his best friend, Sherry Ann Reynoldson, on Feb. 19, 1972, in Albion.  The couple lived in Albion a few years before moving to different communities in Nebraska.  An employment opportunity with a Reclamation Company brought the family to Laramie, Wyoming, in 1982.  Shoe later went to work for High Country John Deere where he met and worked with Rick Mead.  A friendship was made and an opportunity to move his family to Worland became available.  Shoe went to work for Mead's Repair in 1993.

 Shoe loved to be in the kitchen or behind his cooker. He often told his wife that he had a dream of putting a barrel on an axle, but it turned into a full time job, as he started "Shoes' BBQ" in 1994. He competed every year in the Wyoming State BBQ and Bluegrass Festival. He always had a good joke to tell, most would make you laugh, a few could make you blush. Being the jokester that he was he loved to make people laugh, but his favorite sound was the laughter of his wife.

He also enjoyed shooting pool, fishing, garage sales, and stopping at pawn shops, but his favorite pastime was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Out of all of Shoe's many hobbies, jobs and accomplishments, he was the most proud of his family.  When folks asked how many grandkids he had, his reply was "7…all boys except 6 of them!"  Shoe loved life and lived it to the fullest extent possible.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Ramona; and one brother, Robert "Bob".

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Sherry; children, Will (Kristen) Schumacher, Tina (TR Jr.) Roberts, and  Jerrad, all of Worland; brothers, William "Bill" (Virginia) Schumacher, of St. Edward, Jim Schumacher, of North Platte; sisters, Rosemary (Keith) Speicher, of Omaha, Jane (Ron) Jarecki, of Norfolk; 7 grandchildren, Kelsea, Brendin, Hailey, Madie, Ivey, Hali, Maygan; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church with Rev. Ray Rodriguez officiating.  Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation for family and friends will be held 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the Bryant Funeral Home Chapel.

Memorial donations may be made to the Eagles Lodge #3096 in care of Bryant Funeral Home, PO Box 524, Worland, WY, 82401. Online condolences can be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com