Schumacher, Darrell M.

Darrell M. Schumacher, 92, a longtime resident of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday morning, Aug. 21, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center following a short illness. A celebration of Darrell's life will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at First Congregational UCC, with the Rev. David Hohmann officiating. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the service. Military honors will be conducted by Iowa Army Honor Guard. According to Darrell's wishes, he donated his body to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Darrell is survived by his wife of 69 years, Shirley; two sons, Gary (Marsha) Schumacher of Great Falls, Mont., and Douglas (Jane) Schumacher of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Justin (Katylin) Schumacher of Seattle, Wash., Jon (fiancee Ellen) Schumacher of Los Angeles, Calif., and David (Amie) of Chicago; and one great-grandson, Enoch.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Earl Schumacher; and four sisters, Doris Utterbach, Wilma Wilkening, Norma Knaak and Bonnie Carstens.

Darrell was born Aug. 17, 1918, near Danbury, Iowa, the son of Carl and Alice (Riddle) Schumacher. He loved flying and obtained his private pilot's license in 1939. He married Shirley Hegg in Iowa City, Iowa on June 8, 1941. Also in June 1941, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and was inducted into two college honor societies, Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon. Darrell enlisted in the Army, serving with the Army Corps of Engineers from August 1941 to March 1946. He helped build the Alcan Highway, Alaska, and served in New Guinea, Morotai and Luzon. He remained in the Active Reserve, retiring in 1962 as a Colonel, USAR. Darrell received the Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars and Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two bronze stars. Darrell also graduated from the Command and General Staff School as an active reservist.

Darrell not only served his country with distinction but also his community. He retired in 1984 as chairman of Rinderknecht Associates and Merit Construction Co. and was currently president of 340th Construction Co. He was a past director of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the former People's Bank and The Meth-Wick Retirement Community. He was a past chairman of the Cedar Rapids Board of Appeals, United Way and the University of Iowa College of Engineering Advisory Board. He served as president of Downtown Rotary Club, Cedar Rapids Executive Club and the Cedar Rapids Country Club. He also was a past trustee of USP Real Estate Investment Trust. Darrell was a member of the American Society of Military Engineers, Reserve Officers Association, the President's Club of the University of Iowa Foundation, Cedar Rapids Downtown Rotary and First Congregational UCC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Darrell's memory to the First Congregational UCC, The Meth-Wick Community or the charity of your choice.

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