Mass of Christian burial for Sophia Mary Schumacher, 84, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Ipswich, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ipswich, with Father Russell Homic as celebrant. Sophia died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Golden Living Centers-Covington Heights in Sioux Falls.
Burial will take place at the church cemetery. Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 Fifth Ave. N.W., in Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church in Ipswich, with a liturgical wake service being held at 7 p.m. Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass on Thursday. Condolences may be left at www.schriversmemorial.com
Sophia Mary Fettig was born March 28, 1930, to Frank and Magdalena (Doll) Fettig in Norbeck. She grew up in Aberdeen with her five brothers and three sisters, where she received her education at St. Mary’s School.
Sophia married John Schumacher on April 26, 1949, in Aberdeen. To this union, 11 children were born. They made their home in Mansfield until they moved to their dairy farm near Leola in 1952. After moving to Ipswich in 1980, Sophia worked at the school until she began her 25-year career as the head cook at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home. She retired at age 75 and continued to live in Ipswich until 2011, when she moved to Sioux Falls.
Sophia will be remembered for her cooking and canning, enough to feed her army of children and all their friends. No one went hungry when they were in her home. She especially enjoyed annual canning and making pickles by the gallons.
Blessed to have shared her life are her children: Theresa Beck and her husband Wayne, Sioux Falls, Diana Steinbring and her husband Neil, Milwaukee, Wis., John Schumacher and his wife Mariann, Ipswich, Kathleen Preszler, Sioux Falls, Patricia Olson and her husband Bob, Sioux Falls, Gary Schumacher, DeSmet, Robert Schumacher and his wife Trish, Lewiston, Idaho, Larry Schumacher (Kristine Warren), Sturgis, Martin Schumacher and his wife Nicole, Sioux Falls, and Madeline Borah and her husband Milt, Dell Rapids; she is also survived by 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers: Frank Fettig and his wife Norma, LeSueur, Minn., and Lawrence Fettig and his wife Shari, Urbandale, Iowa; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 1986; her daughter, Janet in 1975; her parents; her brothers: George, Matt and Martin; and her sisters: Margaret, Maggie and Mary.