Leonard Schumacher

Beloved husband, father, grandfather Leonard Joseph Schumacher passed away early on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at the Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Leonard Joseph Schumacher was born Feb. 22, 1916, in Mena, Ark., son of John Henry and Agnes Bigler Schumacher, both of Cobden, Ill. He grew up in Kelso, Mo., where his parents owned and operated Schumacher Mercantile. Schumacher attended grade school at St. Augustine in Kelso and high school in Cape Girardeau at St. Mary's, where he skipped two grades on the way to graduation. He worked at Bohnsacks in Cape Girardeau for six years.

He met and married Charlotte Edgar of Fordyce, Ark., in 1942. Schumacher served in the Navy during World War II, seeing service in the Pacific.

He was an agent for Millers Mutual Insurance for 40 years after the war, beginning in Sikeston and moving to Cape in 1955. Schumacher served as County Recorder of Deeds for eight years in Cape Girardeau County and started the computerization of the county records. He enjoyed being known as "The Marriage License Man."

Schumacher was an avid bowling enthusiast and served as the secretary of the Cape District Bowling Association. He was inducted into the Cape Regional Bowling Hall of Fame. Later he was an avid golfer and was proud of his three holes-in-one.

The Schumachers did a lot of traveling, first camping with their children all across the country and later making many other trips. He and Charlotte organized canoe trips on the Current River for Girl Scouts and shared their Van Buren cabin.

The Schumachers volunteered a total of 27 years at Saint Francis Medical Center at the front desk and also at the emergency room entrance as the hospitable couple welcoming visitors or comforting families of those experiencing trauma.

Schumacher was active in St. Mary's Parish, serving as lector and usher and many other duties.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, and their six children and families; Sue Gibson in Cincinnati, Gene in Marietta, Ga., Aubre Edgar in Cape Girardeau, Bob in Macon, Ga., Mary Brooks in Reno, Nev., and Patrick in St. Louis; grandchildren include Jennifer Tucker, Sylvia Edgar, Michael Schumacher, Karel Borowiak, Matthew Gibson, David Schumacher, Ben Brooks, Emily Brooks and Dennis Brooks; great-grandchildren include J.D. Edgar, Zachary Borowiak and Mason and Kaitlin Tucker.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m., followed by Knights of Columbus rosary.

Funeral Mass is at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Guadalupe House, c/o Sister Rita Schonhoff, Ellington, Mo.