Schomaker, Edwin Martin

Edwin Martin Schomaker, 86, of New Baden, died Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Countryside Manor in Aviston. He was born November 25, 1926 in Damiansville, son of Martin and Jacobina (Kalmer) Schomaker. He married Frieda A. Wolters in Aviston on January 13, 1953 and she survives in New Baden. In addition to his wife he is survived by a son, James J. (Darlene) Schomaker of Nashville, grandson, J.J. (Amber) Schomaker, great-grandson, James III, grandson, Ross (Alissa) Schomaker, great-grandson, Corbin, grandson, Andrew (fiancée, Michele) Schomaker, great-grandson, Carter; daughter, Mary Lou Schomaker of New Baden; son, Donald (Sherri) Schomaker of Germantown, granddaughter, Beth (Nick) Bohnenstiehl, great-grandson, Everett, grandson, Brad (Jessica) Schomaker, great-granddaughter, Charlotte; and daughter, Geri (Jode) Hughes of Trenton, grandson, Ben Hughes, granddaughter, Becky (Tyler) Schubert, and granddaughter, Katie Hughes; two sisters, Ella Rensing of New Baden and Bertha Wessling of Germantown; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ralph & Florence Wolters of Albers. He is also survived by nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Karen Schomaker; brothers, Harry J. Schomaker and Norbert Schomaker; a sister, Lorene Rensing; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herman & Caroline (Kuhl) Wolters; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Elmer Rensing, Art Wessling, Herman Rensing, Catherine & John Gress, Fred “Fritz” & Cecelia Wolters, Dorothy & Richard Richter, Josephine & Claude Gunn, Cecelia & Aloys Niemann, Bertha & Charles Horstmann, Mary Louise & Sylvester Ratermann, John & Pauline Wolters, and Joe & Marie Wolters. Mr. Schomaker was a mechanic at Mascoutah Chevrolet Dealerships and retired from Hemann Chevrolet in New Baden. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served during the Korean Conflict. Ed was a member of St. George Parish and Holy Name in New Baden where he served as a funeral server and usher. He was a life member for over 50 years of the American Legion Post 321 in New Baden; a March of Dimes member; a member of Mater Dei Fathers and Friends Club for 32 years, a former member of the Mater Dei School Board, and was named to the Mater Dei Hall of Honor in 2006. He enjoyed working on transmissions, grafting pecan trees, fishing and he enjoyed being Santa for over 40 years. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 18, 2013 at St. George Catholic Church in New Baden with Rev. Eugene Neff officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in New Baden. Friends may call from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, November 17, 2013 and from 8 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Monday, November 18, 2013 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. The American Legion will visit the funeral home at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. George Cemetery Fund, Mater Dei High School Foundation, or the American Legion Post 321 and will be received at the funeral home.