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- [S927] Obituary.
On June 16, 2009, Reverend Herbert Schauer departed this life for the next in the presence of his family and his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Mary.
Rev. Schauer was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Emily Feiock. Two sisters, Ruby (Schauer) Sukut and Glenna (Schauer) Fouberg, survived him as well as four children: Andrew and Pamela (Mannarelli) Schauer and their children Austin, Addison, and Anna Marie; Rodney and April (Schauer) Zimmerman and Isaac, Ian, and Inessa; Austen and Angela (Tracy) Schauer and Anne, Aaron, and Allison; and Ashley and Jocelyn (Kei) Schauer and Timothy and Annaliese. Herbert also had three great grandsons; Joseph, Jett and Gabe.
Herb entered this world on October 26, 1920 in a farmhouse south of Ashley, North Dakota, the first child and only son of Andrew and Lydia (Jenner) Schauer. Despite starting school at age 5 and speaking only German, Herb progressed rapidly skipping two grades and entering high school at the age of 12 weighing 66 pounds. He graduated from Ashley High School in 1937 and went on to complete a teaching degree at the State Normal and Industrial School in Ellendale, ND. In addition to his studies, he learned to play the piano, accordion, and alto saxophone. He used his musical gifts throughout his life.
Over the next several years Herb taught school, including in a one-room schoolhouse, and helped his father run the family farm. During World War II, he briefly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserves; however, he was honorably discharged to return to the family farm because of the nation?s need for food for the war effort.
Herbert made a public confession of Christ at age 13 with baptism soon after. In his mid-20?s, he felt called to the ministry ? resisted for a bit - but then enrolled in the North American Baptist Seminary located in Rochester, New York. God?s grace prevailed once again when he met a dashing brunette named Mary Lacney who attended the Nursing School at the University of Rochester. Obviously a romantic, he often told his children he first noticed Mary because she had nice hair with a very neat part. They married in 1950.
Herbert and Mary went on to serve several Baptist churches including Elmo, KS (1950-54) where his son Andrew was born; Turtle Lake, ND (1954-58) where daughter April and son Austen came along; Startup, WA (1958-63); Portland, OR (1963-69) where son Ashley was born; Sacramento, CA (1969-1975), and Hebron (1975-90). Upon ?retirement,? he served as Area Secretary overseeing 40 churches in North Dakota and Montana for the next 7 years. He always enjoyed this work because it gave him a chance to encourage others, something he loved. After stepping down as Area Secretary, he remained active until the end of his life preaching at the Marian Manor Nursing Home, filling in for local ministers throughout the area in churches of many different denominations, and writing sermonettes for The Hebron Herald. He was scheduled for two weddings later this summer. Of course, this was only the formal part of his ministry. Informally, he ministered to those around him, particularly those hurting or in need, almost every day of his life. Except for Thursdays, that was for fishing.
Throughout his life, Herbert did his best to keep doctors busy. At the age of 4 he fell from a car breaking his collarbone when his mother took a turn too fast. At 15, he nearly died from peritonitis when his appendix burst. He went on to experience gall bladder surgery, prostate cancer (twice), and coronary artery bypass surgery with multiple grafts on two separate occasions twelve years apart. Although he suffered no ill health from the incident, at age 81 on a February day he escaped from his vehicle when it broke through the ice while fishing requiring a one-mile walk to a farmhouse. Mary came to pick him up; he recalled it as a very quiet ride home. His medical history came full circle on May 15 when while camping at Garrison Lake a wind gust pulled him from his RV and broke his collarbone and several ribs. The vehicle then backed onto him breaking his right leg. Mary, a much less enthusiastic camper, jumped into the RV and drove it off him. In spite of physicians? initial predictions that he would not last the night, he fought valiantly, along with the physicians and nurses at MedCenter One, for over a month. The Lord finally called him home on June 16th.
Reverend Schauer joyfully, actively, and faithfully served the Lord for nearly 60 years. He had a great love for God, for life, for family, and for coffee, not necessarily in that order. He frequently reminded us that all we have in life are relationships and he constantly worked to stay close to his friends, his family, and his God. His service and his devotion to all who knew him will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Hebron on Saturday, June 27th at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in honor of Reverend Schauer to the First Baptist Church of Hebron or the North American Baptist Conference-OVERSEAS missions.
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1920 - 2009 (88 years)