John Schaumburg

John Elroy Schaumburg of Mahnomen, MN, passed away Saturday, October 26, 2013, at the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley, MN. John was born on November 20, 1918, on the family farm in Chief Township, Mahnomen County, to Ralph and Minna (Thram) Schaumburg. On November 20, 1946, John married Dorothy Crandall at the Congregational Church in Detroit Lakes, MN, with Reverend Myron Mickel officiating. Over the years they were blessed with seven children. Family, home, community, and country were important to John. In October of 1940 he joined the U.S. Army. After spending a short period of time at Fort Snelling he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After five months he received the rank of Sergeant and began training recruits bound for battle. In July 1943, John was sent to the Asiatic-Pacific theatre as a Staff-Sergeant and member of Cannon Company, 63rd Infantry, 6th Division. He was in northern Luzon on August 11, 1945, when troops were informed by radio that Japan has offered to surrender. While out of country John served in Hawaii, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He supervised installation and the operation of wire and radio communications. At the close of the war, among the medals he received was the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star. Shortly after returning from war he married Dorothy and they began almost 40 years of operating a dairy business and running the family farm. John was a 4-H leader, enjoyed card parties with the neighbors, and deer hunting season. He hunted with his sons and cousins that would come up from St. Paul. In 1991 John and Dorothy sold the farm and moved to Mahnomen, which began a new phase in his life. He became an avid golfer and bowler. He also made many woodworking projects, including doll furniture for his granddaughters. In April 2010, he entered the Twin Valley Living Center. John was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, serving on the council and as president. He also served on the Mahnomen Country Club board as president. He was a 65 year continuous member of the Mahnomen American Legion, serving as commander and adjutant for many years. He received the Outstanding Mahnomen County Senior Citizen award in 1997. He also served 18 years on the REA board. John is survived by his wife Dorothy, daughter Pat (Jim) Todahl, son Richard (Elaine), daughter Susan Matson (Ron) Thorsrud, son Rodney (Gwenn), Mark (Jane), Michael (Sandy) Schaumburg and daughter-in-law Suzanne Schaumburg, brother-in-law John Crandall and sister-in-law Martha Schaumburg, John is also survived by 22 grandchildren: Eileen Todahl, Coutrney (Jason) Kohl, Jessica Jacobson, Andrew (April) and Nathan (Angela) Matson, Jonathan, Benjamin (Jennifer), Timothy (Allison) Schaumburg, Alanna (Blake) Peterson, Patrick, Melissa, Tylor and Matt Schaumburg, Amanda (Derrik) Klein, Jennifer, Wayne, Mary Jo, and Luke Schaumburg, Samantha (Ted) Dibbee, Greg (Jessica), Tony and Calvin Schaumburg. He is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Minnie Schaumburg, sister Dorothy Mae Crandall, brothers; Alfred and Melvin, granddaughter Joan Marie Schaumburg, son Dale Schaumburg, son-in-law, Allan Matson, grandparents; John Henry and Margaret Schaumburg and Carl and Wellhelmina (Tessmer) Thram, brother-in-law Myron Crandall, mother-in-law Viola (Dunn) Barton, and step-father-in-law Henry Barton. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 1, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mahnomen. Visitation will be Thursday, October 31, 2013, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a family service at 6:30 p.m. at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Mahnomen.

John Schaumburg

November 20, 1918 - October 26, 2013