James Francis Schumacher

James Francis Schumacher  

March 3, 1968- May 22, 2025  

James F. (Jim) Schumacher, 57, of Shelton, CT, formerly of Hampton and Ackley, passed away on  Thursday, May 22, 2025 after a brief illness.  

Jim was born on March 3, 1968, to Robert and Phyllis (Smith) Schumacher at Mercy Hospital in Fort  Dodge, Iowa—the 13th of 15 children, and the last of seven boys. This placement in the family line  allowed Jim to be special to all of the family. He was his parents’ baby boy, the older siblings’ baby  brother, and buddy to those siblings nearest him, especially Paul. Very soon after, he was big brother,  and then later, Uncle/Big Jim. Growing up, Jim loved to fish with his grandparents, find the perfect geode  or agate, do woodworking projects, and to invent games to keep himself and others occupied all summer  (ask Paul and Sean about the apple flicking).  

That patience, attention to detail, and his scientific acumen served him well when he went to Creighton  University and studied Pharmacy, graduating with a Doctorate of Pharmacy in 1992. Jim worked in  pharmacies in Omaha and Fremont, NE and Sydney and Nevada, IA before moving to rural Hampton and  working for Koerner-Whipple Pharmacies in Hampton and Iowa Falls. While in Hampton, Jim decided to  finally do what he had wanted to do for a long time—he went to work in construction, working part-time  as a pharmacist and part-time with Hofmeister Construction for 18 years.  

Jim loved his family and his dog, Pete; a good Irish whisky; delving into music lyrics; the Chicago Cubs,  Iowa Hawkeyes, and Creighton Basketball. And he loved Iowa. The feel of it. The smell of it. The sounds  of it. He loved Iowa above all. Except one: Margaret Lee. It was obvious to all who knew them. Jim and  Margaret were married at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Bayside, Queens, New  York on August 1, 2020. The Pandemic diminished the size of their wedding but not the depth of their  love. It was beautiful. Though Jim has died, their love lives in Margaret and all those who knew and loved  them.  

Jim is survived by his wife Margaret, of Shelton, CT; his mother, Phyllis Schumacher of Iowa Falls; his  siblings: Deb (Craig) McGarry of Omaha, NE; Pat (Linda) Schumacher of Ainsworth, NE; Kris Schumacher  of Iowa Falls; Cindy Schumacher of Omaha, NE; Beth (Doug) Gronewold, of Ackley; Anne Schumacher of  Des Moines; Steve (Mary) Schumacher, of Ackley; Bob (Glenda) Schumacher, of Juniata, NE; Joe (Nancy)  Schumacher, of Windsor, CO; Paul Schumacher, of Mason City; Margaret Schumacher, of Omaha, NE; and  Martha Lemar, of Omaha, NE; 47 nieces and nephews; 84 great- nieces and nephews; his father- and  mother-in-law, Frank and Grace Lee; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Lee; brother-in-law Stewart (Beverly Wu) Lee  (Jocelyn, Adam); cousin, Jeffrey Tsai; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and close family and friends.  Jim was preceded in death by his father, Robert F. Schumacher; his brother, Michael J. Schumacher; his  sister, Mary Kathryn Schumacher; his nephew and godson, Benjamin M. Schumacher; and his great niece, Rylee N. Schumacher.  

Services on Saturday, May 31st  

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ackley, Iowa: 

Visitation: 10:00 AM 

Rosary: 11:30 AM  

Mass of Christian Burial: 1:00 PM, with meal immediately following at St. Mary’s parish hall.  

Interment:  
5:00 PM at St. Joseph Cemetery, Duncombe, Iowa. 
 

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