Jerome “Joe” Schueler

Visitation

Date: Friday January 13, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]

Memorial Service

Date: Friday January 13, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm

Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]

Live Stream

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Date of Birth:
Tuesday, August 27, 1940
Date of Death:
Friday, January 6, 2023
Age:
82 years old

Jerome “Joe” Schueler

Jerome Oscar Schueler, 82, of Rochester, MN died Friday, January 6^th 2023 at his home.

Joe was born August 27^th, 1940 at home in Willmar, MN to Oscar & Irma Schueler. He attended Svea Country District 55 school for the first 8 years and spent grades 9-12 at Willmar High School. He was baptized and confirmed at Svea Lutheran Church and he graduated from Willmar High School in 1958. Following high school he enlisted in the Air Force where he was selected to be part of the security service and taught to speak and translate Russian into English while stationed off the coast of Alaska and Japan. His Air Force career was from 1960 to 1964, and his rank was Airman First Class. After returning home from his military service, he attended Willmar Junior College before moving on to the University of Minnesota where he met Linda Anderson. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and was hired by the Chicago Tribune. Joe and Linda were married on June 22^nd, 1968, and Eric was born in Joliet, IL, on January 12^th, 1978. Joe’s love of the farm and country life brought the family back to MN in 1982 where they purchased a farm in Kandiyohi. He worked at the West Central Tribune in Wilmar as an editor and helped with the family farm on the weekends. He later sought out a new career at the Rochester Post-Bulletin where he retired at the age of 70.

Joe always had a story to tell and a date to go with it. He had many hobbies. Some of the many included leather making, .022 rifles, rabbit hunting with beagles, horses, mules, tractors, gardening, antiques, flea markets, and sewing machines.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, of Rochester, MN; his son, Eric, of Chesapeake, VA; and his granddaughter, Phoebe. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, sisters, and brothers. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Ronald Erickson.

The funeral service will be held at 1 PM, Friday, January 13^th, 2023, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 12 PM. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, MN.

To view a live stream of the memorial service, click here.

Condolences

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The family of Jerome “Joe” Schueler has received the following condolences.

My deepest condolences to Linda, Eric, and our family.

Joe was an amazing man and I have the fondest memories of youth with him, whether staying with the family for a time or riding his mule team on an extended journey to a rendezvous, a once in a lifetime experience for a farm kid!

You’re all in my thoughts and prayers through this time.

All our love sincerely,

Joey Schueler and Nicole Hanson

-- Joey Schueler
Added on January 13, 2023

Dear Linda, Eric and family,

We are so sorry to hear that Joe has passed away. We have great memories of your family when you lived near Kandiyohi. Your family was such as important part of Ebenezer Church and loved by all. May you be comforted by good memories and the knowledge that you will see Joe again!

God's blessings to all of you,

Dan & Betsy Hallberg

-- Dan & Betsy Hallberg
Added on January 13, 2023

In memory of my friend Joe

Joe, thanks for your friendship that lasted for over 70 years. It all began in 1951when my family arrived at the Norling’s farm just south of Svea, our new residence. We met at the Svea School in the 5th grade. The school had two big classrooms: one for grades 1-4, and the other 5-8. Each class had a row of seats. The kitchen for noon meals was in the basement. The attic was an open are where we could play basketball or roller skate. We spent many happy hours there.

I recall one episode where we formed a bucket brigade and poured water down a gopher hole trying to force him out of its den but were not successful. We had school bus service to the school. Mellie Swenson would pick us up at the end of our driveways or at the Co-Op store in Svea. I recall that I had heard that if one shoved a potato in the exhaust pipe, the engine would stop. So, one day I brought a potato to the school, and I shoved the potato in the exhaust pipe while the kids were getting on the bus and the engine quit. You and I were laughing so hard and poor Mellie was scratching his head and trying to restart the bus to no avail. Finally, he walked around to back of the bus and noted that something was suck in the exhaust pipe. And, I had to confess and take the punishment.

I also recall that you invited me to stay over the weekend with you- helping you with actual farm work and chores. You also helped me build my crossbow where the bow was made from a car spring. I still have the crossbow- I think it can be considered to be an American Folk Art. I think that finally in the 8th grade we started noticing girls.

Then on to Willmar High School for 4 years. You were a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) Club, and I fully expected that you would be a farmer. Me, not so- more of the engineering type. Before we got our drivers licenses and cars, we were kind of home bound and did not participate in many- if any- extracurricular activities- especially me since my folks did not have a car.

Some memories come flooding back. I recall that you had gotten interested in coon hounds and had 2 or 3. One time you decided to go to the small island in Big Kandiyohi Lake by Carlson’s farm, stay overnight, and run the coon hounds. We loaded up a leaky rowboat with the tents and equipment and the dogs and rowed to the island. The excited dogs n their exuberance almost tipped the boat and water started coming in over the gunwales- but we made it. We set up the tents and that evening started a campfire to heat our beans and hot dogs and let the hounds run. Truly a wild and haunting experience to hear the hounds bay when they found a trail to follow and how the tone of the bays changed when the coon was treed.

You were also interested in old cars and had obtained an old Ford Model A and refurbished it. It was wintertime and we decided to drive out over the ice to the little island on Big Kandiyohi Lake towards the evening. You were driving the Model A and I was in my 55 Chev. You were driving closer to shore and the Model A went over a ridge of ice and broke thru and was just supported by the front and rear bumpers still on edge of the ice. You and your date bailed out ok but then you saw that the headlights were still on, so you made the foolish decision to crawl back in the car and shut the lights off. So far so good. Now what? The front end finally broke loose, and the car was partially submerged. The next day, you got a telephone pole and block and tackle and some planks and were able to pull the car back on the ice and tow it home. A little work to get the water out of the engine and you were able to get it running again. What a wild experience- not for the faint hearted.

We had freedom when we finally got out licenses and cars. If I recall correctly, you had a black 51 Chev which you customized and removed all the chrome and had the garage in Blomkest “lead in the holes” and repaint. I had my 55 Chev.

We now could now “cruise” the streets Willmar on weekends, go to drive-ins for a burger, fries and a coke or root beer float, and perhaps meet up with some girls.

Sometimes we would just gather at the Valentine’s little 6 seat restaurant in Svea and have a “near beer” (nonalcoholic beer) and just hang out and talk as teenagers did. We felt so grown-up drinking “beer”. It also brought to mind that somehow, we had gotten some farmer north of Willmar to buy us some real beer now and then.

We did our share of hunting and fishing. You also were into squirrel hunting and also trapping. I recall that for one of your birthdays I gave you a trap with a spring on each end- way too strong for what you were trapping- mink, muskrat, rabbits etc. I was probably strong enough to catch a wolf. You had a good laugh over that!

After high school we kind of went our separate ways. You joined the Air force ad became a Russian language translator. After the stint with the Air Force, you went to college and became a journalist. I went on to college and became an engineer.

Thus, work took over, marriage, and we kind of went our separate ways. In 1978 or so you stopped by my dad’s house and introduced us to your baby son Eric.

Our friendship never waned. No matter how long it was since our last get together, we could just pick up where we left off. We started communicating again more frequently around 2008. And finally, we started meeting in Cannon Falls- about halfway between St. Paul and Rochester. It was great to meet face to face after many years and reminisce about our life experiences. I found out that you were known as the “Watermelon Man” of Rochester. You grew watermelons for sale at Farmer’s Markets in your garden in the ravine behind your house. You also noted that you had a passion for Singer Sewing machines. On one telephone call you made me go to the basement and get the serial number from my mother’s sewing machine- and then you lectured me on all of the features that machine had.

In a recent phone call, we reminisced again about our lives and experiences that we encountered throughout the years, talked about our health issues, laughed a lot, and perhaps shed a joyful tear and wished each other a Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year.

Thanks for your friendship that lasted 72 years. And thanks for all of the good memories.

Andrew Pakalns

To the family of Joe-

May your sorrow be eased by good memories.

We will not be able to attend the services.

Andrew and Antra Pakalns

-- Andrew And Antra Pakalns
Added on January 11, 2023

I am so sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. My condolences to Linda, Eric and the entire Schueler family. He will be missed

I will be bringing my wife to the airport on Friday so will be unable to attend the memorial service. Peace be to his memory.

Dave Carlson

-- Dave Carlson
Added on January 9, 2023

I am sorry for your loss.

-- Jon Crumb
Added on January 9, 2023