GRANVILLE, IOWA – Walter B. Schuver, 84, of Granville passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, following a brief illness.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville with Rev. Terry Roder officiating and Rev. William McCarthy concelebrating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Granville. Graveside Military Honors will be conducted by the Granville Veterans. Visitation will be anytime after 4 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 2014. There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m., and vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
Walter Bartholomew Schuver was born August 25, 1929, at the family farm home outside Granville to Joseph and Eleanor (Oberbroeckling) Schuver. He was lifetime parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. He attended a country school near his home through the eighth grade. He farmed the family farm for more than 60 years until moving to an apartment in Remsen almost three years ago.
Walt was united in marriage to Geraldine Croat on January 26, 1954, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. The couple made their home at the family farm for almost 60 years. Walt slept every night in the room he was born in.
Walt was a talented singer and guitar player. He loved to play the guitar and sing either for himself or for an audience. He was a member of the choir at the church for more than 65 years. He was a featured soloist for many funerals and weddings over the years. He often volunteered to entertain at nursing homes. Walt had an avid love of music, from traditional country music to polka waltz music and rarely was far from his large collection of recorded music.
He enjoyed farming, raising cattle, hogs, sheep and chickens over the years as well as growing corn, soybeans and other crops. He was a longtime member or officer of various agriculture organizations and elevator boards.
Walt was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus at the church. He was also a longtime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He enjoyed card games such as pinochle and watching his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. He also loved to go fishing. He was a veteran of the Army during the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife Geraldine (Gerry) of the Happy Siesta Healthcare Center in Remsen; five children, Joseph and life partner Wil Mills of San Francisco, Cal.; Michael (Dianne) of Branson, Missouri; Mary (Jeff) Watkins of Louisville, Kentucky; Jennifer (Tom) Kittler of Northbrook, Illinois; and Kathy (Shane) St. Clair of Shawnee, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Justin Schuver of Atmore, Alabama; Nathan Schuver of Branson; Allison Schuver of Birmingham, Alabama; Elizabeth and Gregory Watkins of Louisville; Jessica and Rebecca Kittler of Northbrook; and Zachary and Madelyn St. Clair of Shawnee; his siblings, Rudy (Winona) Schuver of Enumclaw, Washington; Agnes Wiederholt of Granville; and Irene (Jupe) Gaul of Warsaw, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Henry; his sister Lorraine Konz; and in-laws Clarence and Regina Croat of Granville.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Justin and Nathan Schuver and Zachary St. Clair; son-in-laws Jeff Watkins, Wil Mills and Tom Kittler; and Kevin Holzman of Granville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given in Walt’s name to either Susan G. Komen or to the Spalding Catholic School Foundation, Inc.