Schuerer Jr., George

George Schuerer Sr., 93, of Amana, died peacefully of natural causes on Friday morning, May 11, 2012, at Colonial Manor of Amana. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 14, at Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana, followed by graveside services in East Amana Cemetery. Elder Kristie Yoder will officiate. Visitation is Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Middle Amana Community Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

George Schuerer was born Dec. 10, 1918, in Amana, the son of Walter and Magdalena (Oehl) Schuerer. George attended the Amana schools. Following graduation, he worked at the Homestead Lumberyard until he was drafted for service for World War II. He served in the Army Air Force Medical Corps. He married Florence Zuber on Aug. 31, 1943.

After World War II, he started work at the Amana Meat Shop and later became manager. After retiring in 1991, he opened the Grapevine Winery, where he continued to meet and greet both tourists and locals alike with a big smile on his face. He made lifelong friends and had the uncanny ability to always remember their names. He served on the Amana Community school board for many years, as well as the Kirkwood Foundation Board. He was a lifelong member of the Amana Church Society.

In his free time, he enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and golfing. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren.

George was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Phyllis (Schuerer) Burgher; and granddaughter, Emilie Burgher.

He is survived by his wife, Florence Zuber Schuerer of Amana; son, George Schuerer Jr. of Amana; son-in-law, Thomas Burgher; four grandchildren, Samantha and Georgie Schuerer and Liesl and Fritz Burgher; and brothers, Walter Schuerer and Harold Schuerer of Amana.

Memorials may be contributed to the Amana Church Society, Amana, and Camp Courageous of Monticello.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Published May 13, 2012 in The Gazette