Gerald "Shoe" Thomas Schumacher

Jerry “Shoe” Schumacher, 59 year old Worland resident passed away at the Billings Clinic on February 4, 2012 following a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Shoe was born on September 23, 1952, in Columbus, Nebraska to William Omer and Louise Rose (Dorr) Schumacher. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up and received his education in St. Edward, Nebraska.

He farmed for a short time and worked at a variety of jobs, but always came back to working as a mechanic. He had a knack for fixing machinery and making things run.

He married his best friend, Sherry Ann Reynoldson on February 19, 1972 in Albion, Nebraska. The couple lived in Albion a few years before moving to different communities in Nebraska. An employment opportunity with a Reclamation Company brought the family to Laramie Wyoming in 1982. Shoe later went to work for High Country John Deere where he met and worked with Rick Mead. A friendship was made and an opportunity to move his family to Worland became available. Shoe went to work for Mead’s Repair in 1993.

Shoe loved to be in the kitchen or behind his cooker. He often told his wife that he had a dream of putting a barrel on an axle, but it turned into a full time job, as he started “Shoes’ BBQ” in 1994. He competed every year in the Wyoming State BBQ and Bluegrass Festival. He always had a good joke to tell, most would make you laugh, a few could make you blush. Being the jokester that he was he loved to make people laugh, but his favorite sound was the laughter of his wife.

He also enjoyed shooting pool, fishing, garage sales and stopping at pawn shops, but his favorite pastime was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Out of all of Shoe’s many hobbies, jobs and accomplishments, he was the most proud of his family. When folks asked how many grandkids he had, his reply was “7…all boys except 6 of them!” Shoe loved life and lived it to the fullest extent possible.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Ramona; and one brother, Robert “Bob” and his ol’ buddy Mooch.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Sherry; children: Will (Kristen) Schumacher, Tina (TR Jr.) Roberts, and Jerrad, all of Worland; brothers, William “Bill” (Virginia) Schumacher of St. Edward, Nebraska, Jim Schumacher of North Platte, Nebraska; sisters: Rosemary (Keith) Speicher, Omaha, NE, Jane (Ron) Jarecki of Norfolk, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren: Kelsea, Brendin, Hailey, Madie, Ivey, Hali, Maygan, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.