Lancaster – John Oscar Schumacher, 76, passed peacefully to his rest in Jesus on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s Campus Hospital in Worcester. He was surrounded by family members and comfort as he succumbed to complications from advanced heart disease.
“The Shoe” as he was affectionately called by close friends, was born on August 13, 1943 at Leominster Hospital, the son of Lancaster farmers Charles A. III & Dorice E. (Marean) Gemma, Schumacher.
His childhood was spent growing up on Schumacher’s Dairy and attending Lancaster Public Schools, such as the former Ballard Hill School next to his boyhood home and also the former Narrow Lane School and Center School. Despite a near-death hunting accident his senior year, he was able to keep up with his studies at home during his months-long recovery and graduated with his classmates, the last graduating class of Lancaster High School in 1961. Following this he attended the Worcester Industrial Technical Institute where he obtained a mechanical drawing / draftsman certificate in 1963 and soon gained fulltime employment at Morgan Construction Company in Worcester.
In 1969, he had his house built at Schumacher Road on land from part of the former family farm; he moved into this home with his family two weeks before Christmas. This remained his residence until his passing; and where he took great delight in meticulously maintaining his yard, garden and property himself.
He continued employment as a draftsman and also later as an estimator, chief mechanical engineer, and salesman at various concrete and metal manufacturing companies such as Granite Research Industries in Worcester until it closed from a fire in the early 1970s, Standard Precast Corporation in Hudson, Ken-Weld Company in Worcester, Atlas Metal Products Company in Hudson until it closed, and most recently he was a sales manager at All-Steel Fabricating Incorporated in North Grafton, where he continued working part time until his passing.
John loved classic cars, having once owned a 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop which he drag raced around New England, such as at the airport in Orange, MA and one by Nashua, NH where he met his ex-wife in 1966. About twenty years ago he purchased a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda which he personally conducted a full off-frame restoration upon in his basement over a year and a half and then proudly maintained for personal enjoyment and recreation. He loved taking various veterans in it as part of Lancaster’s annual Memorial Day parade, as well as exhibiting it at numerous car shows and regularly obtaining trophies and awards. He was also an active member and past officer of the Country Line Car Club.
John also relished riding bikes, whether it was a fast spin on his blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle or a therapeutic bicycle peddling along one of his favorite rail trails such as the ones from Ayer, MA to Nashua, NH or along the Connecticut River Valley in Western Mass. He had also been an avid game bird hunter in his younger years and maintained an active membership in the National Rifle Association.
He enjoyed visiting family and friends, making a point to visit extended family members throughout each year and he especially loved spending time with his six grandchildren, who all called him “Grampa Shoe”.
John had attended the Lancaster Evangelical Congregational Church as a child and later again for a number of years in adulthood before finally settling with the Hope Chapel in Sterling for his spiritual family. He was baptized there about eight years ago and, until recently, regularly assisted there as a housekeeper volunteer.
John is survived by all three of his children, son John C. Schumacher-Hardy of Lancaster, and daughters Denise Reid (and her husband Mark) of Hudson, MA, Melissa Davis of Reading, MA and, MA; six grandchildren, Isabel and Alex Reid of Hudson, MA and Haven, Hadley, Harper and Brady Davis of Reading, MA; his sister Faith Arsenault of Sturbridge, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father (1953), his mother (2006), brothers Charlie Schumacher IV (1971), Donnie Gemma (1984), Rollie Gemma (1991), and Wesley Schumacher (1998). His ex-wife, Donna (Hardy) Schumacher, Harrod also predeceased him in 2007.
Per John’s wishes there shall only be closed casket Calling Hours and a Graveside Service. Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home shall host the Calling Hours on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 4 PM to 7 PM. The Graveside Service shall occur at Eastwood Cemetery in Lancaster at 11 AM, Friday, January 10, 2020. Following the Graveside Service family and friends are welcome to gather for food and fellowship at the College Town Inn at 12 Old Common Road, Lancaster, by Five Corners and Route 110. More details are available online at: https://www.philbincomeaufh.com/
[Written by his son John C. Schumacher-Hardy]
“The Shoe” as he was affectionately called by close friends, was born on August 13, 1943 at Leominster Hospital, the son of Lancaster farmers Charles A. III & Dorice E. (Marean) Gemma, Schumacher.
His childhood was spent growing up on Schumacher’s Dairy and attending Lancaster Public Schools, such as the former Ballard Hill School next to his boyhood home and also the former Narrow Lane School and Center School. Despite a near-death hunting accident his senior year, he was able to keep up with his studies at home during his months-long recovery and graduated with his classmates, the last graduating class of Lancaster High School in 1961. Following this he attended the Worcester Industrial Technical Institute where he obtained a mechanical drawing / draftsman certificate in 1963 and soon gained fulltime employment at Morgan Construction Company in Worcester.
In 1969, he had his house built at Schumacher Road on land from part of the former family farm; he moved into this home with his family two weeks before Christmas. This remained his residence until his passing; and where he took great delight in meticulously maintaining his yard, garden and property himself.
He continued employment as a draftsman and also later as an estimator, chief mechanical engineer, and salesman at various concrete and metal manufacturing companies such as Granite Research Industries in Worcester until it closed from a fire in the early 1970s, Standard Precast Corporation in Hudson, Ken-Weld Company in Worcester, Atlas Metal Products Company in Hudson until it closed, and most recently he was a sales manager at All-Steel Fabricating Incorporated in North Grafton, where he continued working part time until his passing.
John loved classic cars, having once owned a 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop which he drag raced around New England, such as at the airport in Orange, MA and one by Nashua, NH where he met his ex-wife in 1966. About twenty years ago he purchased a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda which he personally conducted a full off-frame restoration upon in his basement over a year and a half and then proudly maintained for personal enjoyment and recreation. He loved taking various veterans in it as part of Lancaster’s annual Memorial Day parade, as well as exhibiting it at numerous car shows and regularly obtaining trophies and awards. He was also an active member and past officer of the Country Line Car Club.
John also relished riding bikes, whether it was a fast spin on his blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle or a therapeutic bicycle peddling along one of his favorite rail trails such as the ones from Ayer, MA to Nashua, NH or along the Connecticut River Valley in Western Mass. He had also been an avid game bird hunter in his younger years and maintained an active membership in the National Rifle Association.
He enjoyed visiting family and friends, making a point to visit extended family members throughout each year and he especially loved spending time with his six grandchildren, who all called him “Grampa Shoe”.
John had attended the Lancaster Evangelical Congregational Church as a child and later again for a number of years in adulthood before finally settling with the Hope Chapel in Sterling for his spiritual family. He was baptized there about eight years ago and, until recently, regularly assisted there as a housekeeper volunteer.
John is survived by all three of his children, son John C. Schumacher-Hardy of Lancaster, and daughters Denise Reid (and her husband Mark) of Hudson, MA, Melissa Davis of Reading, MA and, MA; six grandchildren, Isabel and Alex Reid of Hudson, MA and Haven, Hadley, Harper and Brady Davis of Reading, MA; his sister Faith Arsenault of Sturbridge, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father (1953), his mother (2006), brothers Charlie Schumacher IV (1971), Donnie Gemma (1984), Rollie Gemma (1991), and Wesley Schumacher (1998). His ex-wife, Donna (Hardy) Schumacher, Harrod also predeceased him in 2007.
Per John’s wishes there shall only be closed casket Calling Hours and a Graveside Service. Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home shall host the Calling Hours on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 4 PM to 7 PM. The Graveside Service shall occur at Eastwood Cemetery in Lancaster at 11 AM, Friday, January 10, 2020. Following the Graveside Service family and friends are welcome to gather for food and fellowship at the College Town Inn at 12 Old Common Road, Lancaster, by Five Corners and Route 110. More details are available online at: https://www.philbincomeaufh.com/
[Written by his son John C. Schumacher-Hardy]
Lancaster – John Oscar Schumacher, 76, passed peacefully to his rest in Jesus on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s Campus Hospital in Worcester. He was surrounded by family members and comfort as he succumbed to complications from advanced heart disease.
“The Shoe” as he was affectionately called by close friends, was born on August 13, 1943 at Leominster Hospital, the son of Lancaster farmers Charles A. III & Dorice E. (Marean) Gemma, Schumacher.
His childhood was spent growing up on Schumacher’s Dairy and attending Lancaster Public Schools, such as the former Ballard Hill School next to his boyhood home and also the former Narrow Lane School and Center School. Despite a near-death hunting accident his senior year, he was able to keep up with his studies at home during his months-long recovery and graduated with his classmates, the last graduating class of Lancaster High School in 1961. Following this he attended the Worcester Industrial Technical Institute where he obtained a mechanical drawing / draftsman certificate in 1963 and soon gained fulltime employment at Morgan Construction Company in Worcester.
In 1969, he had his house built at Schumacher Road on land from part of the former family farm; he moved into this home with his family two weeks before Christmas. This remained his residence until his passing; and where he took great delight in meticulously maintaining his yard, garden and property himself.
He continued employment as a draftsman and also later as an estimator, chief mechanical engineer, and salesman at various concrete and metal manufacturing companies such as Granite Research Industries in Worcester until it closed from a fire in the early 1970s, Standard Precast Corporation in Hudson, Ken-Weld Company in Worcester, Atlas Metal Products Company in Hudson until it closed, and most recently he was a sales manager at All-Steel Fabricating Incorporated in North Grafton, where he continued working part time until his passing.
John loved classic cars, having once owned a 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop which he drag raced around New England, such as at the airport in Orange, MA and one by Nashua, NH where he met his ex-wife in 1966. About twenty years ago he purchased a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda which he personally conducted a full off-frame restoration upon in his basement over a year and a half and then proudly maintained for personal enjoyment and recreation. He loved taking various veterans in it as part of Lancaster’s annual Memorial Day parade, as well as exhibiting it at numerous car shows and regularly obtaining trophies and awards. He was also an active member and past officer of the Country Line Car Club.
John also relished riding bikes, whether it was a fast spin on his blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle or a therapeutic bicycle peddling along one of his favorite rail trails such as the ones from Ayer, MA to Nashua, NH or along the Connecticut River Valley in Western Mass. He had also been an avid game bird hunter in his younger years and maintained an active membership in the National Rifle Association.
He enjoyed visiting family and friends, making a point to visit extended family members throughout each year and he especially loved spending time with his six grandchildren, who all called him “Grampa Shoe”.
John had attended the Lancaster Evangelical Congregational Church as a child and later again for a number of years in adulthood before finally settling with the Hope Chapel in Sterling for his spiritual family. He was baptized there about eight years ago and, until recently, regularly assisted there as a housekeeper volunteer.
John is survived by all three of his children, son John C. Schumacher-Hardy of Lancaster, and daughters Denise Reid (and her husband Mark) of Hudson, MA, Melissa Davis of Reading, MA and, MA; six grandchildren, Isabel and Alex Reid of Hudson, MA and Haven, Hadley, Harper and Brady Davis of Reading, MA; his sister Faith Arsenault of Sturbridge, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father (1953), his mother (2006), brothers Charlie Schumacher IV (1971), Donnie Gemma (1984), Rollie Gemma (1991), and Wesley Schumacher (1998). His ex-wife, Donna (Hardy) Schumacher, Harrod also predeceased him in 2007.
Per John’s wishes there shall only be closed casket Calling Hours and a Graveside Service. Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home shall host the Calling Hours on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 4 PM to 7 PM. The Graveside Service shall occur at Eastwood Cemetery in Lancaster at 11 AM, Friday, January 10, 2020. Following the Graveside Service family and friends are welcome to gather for food and fellowship at the College Town Inn at 12 Old Common Road, Lancaster, by Five Corners and Route 110. More details are available online at: https://www.philbincomeaufh.com/
[Written by his son John C. Schumacher-Hardy]
“The Shoe” as he was affectionately called by close friends, was born on August 13, 1943 at Leominster Hospital, the son of Lancaster farmers Charles A. III & Dorice E. (Marean) Gemma, Schumacher.
His childhood was spent growing up on Schumacher’s Dairy and attending Lancaster Public Schools, such as the former Ballard Hill School next to his boyhood home and also the former Narrow Lane School and Center School. Despite a near-death hunting accident his senior year, he was able to keep up with his studies at home during his months-long recovery and graduated with his classmates, the last graduating class of Lancaster High School in 1961. Following this he attended the Worcester Industrial Technical Institute where he obtained a mechanical drawing / draftsman certificate in 1963 and soon gained fulltime employment at Morgan Construction Company in Worcester.
In 1969, he had his house built at Schumacher Road on land from part of the former family farm; he moved into this home with his family two weeks before Christmas. This remained his residence until his passing; and where he took great delight in meticulously maintaining his yard, garden and property himself.
He continued employment as a draftsman and also later as an estimator, chief mechanical engineer, and salesman at various concrete and metal manufacturing companies such as Granite Research Industries in Worcester until it closed from a fire in the early 1970s, Standard Precast Corporation in Hudson, Ken-Weld Company in Worcester, Atlas Metal Products Company in Hudson until it closed, and most recently he was a sales manager at All-Steel Fabricating Incorporated in North Grafton, where he continued working part time until his passing.
John loved classic cars, having once owned a 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop which he drag raced around New England, such as at the airport in Orange, MA and one by Nashua, NH where he met his ex-wife in 1966. About twenty years ago he purchased a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda which he personally conducted a full off-frame restoration upon in his basement over a year and a half and then proudly maintained for personal enjoyment and recreation. He loved taking various veterans in it as part of Lancaster’s annual Memorial Day parade, as well as exhibiting it at numerous car shows and regularly obtaining trophies and awards. He was also an active member and past officer of the Country Line Car Club.
John also relished riding bikes, whether it was a fast spin on his blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle or a therapeutic bicycle peddling along one of his favorite rail trails such as the ones from Ayer, MA to Nashua, NH or along the Connecticut River Valley in Western Mass. He had also been an avid game bird hunter in his younger years and maintained an active membership in the National Rifle Association.
He enjoyed visiting family and friends, making a point to visit extended family members throughout each year and he especially loved spending time with his six grandchildren, who all called him “Grampa Shoe”.
John had attended the Lancaster Evangelical Congregational Church as a child and later again for a number of years in adulthood before finally settling with the Hope Chapel in Sterling for his spiritual family. He was baptized there about eight years ago and, until recently, regularly assisted there as a housekeeper volunteer.
John is survived by all three of his children, son John C. Schumacher-Hardy of Lancaster, and daughters Denise Reid (and her husband Mark) of Hudson, MA, Melissa Davis of Reading, MA and, MA; six grandchildren, Isabel and Alex Reid of Hudson, MA and Haven, Hadley, Harper and Brady Davis of Reading, MA; his sister Faith Arsenault of Sturbridge, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father (1953), his mother (2006), brothers Charlie Schumacher IV (1971), Donnie Gemma (1984), Rollie Gemma (1991), and Wesley Schumacher (1998). His ex-wife, Donna (Hardy) Schumacher, Harrod also predeceased him in 2007.
Per John’s wishes there shall only be closed casket Calling Hours and a Graveside Service. Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home shall host the Calling Hours on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 4 PM to 7 PM. The Graveside Service shall occur at Eastwood Cemetery in Lancaster at 11 AM, Friday, January 10, 2020. Following the Graveside Service family and friends are welcome to gather for food and fellowship at the College Town Inn at 12 Old Common Road, Lancaster, by Five Corners and Route 110. More details are available online at: https://www.philbincomeaufh.com/
[Written by his son John C. Schumacher-Hardy]
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