Robert Lee Schumacher

Bob Schumacher, 72, husband of Mary Jane Schumacher, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, November 06, 2014 from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. Bob was born to Owen and Beryl Schumacher on August 22, 1942, in Parkersburg, WV. He graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1960. He attended West Virginia University and graduated from Marshall University. He maintained a life-long love of the Mountaineers and Thundering Herd. Bob spent his entire 40-year career working in the newspaper industry. He began working part time as a writer for the Parkersburg newspaper while he was still in high school. He worked as a reporter for newspapers in Beckley, WV; Huntington WV; and Charlotte, NC. He moved to Ohio and worked for The Akron Beacon Journal, where he covered the Kent State shootings. In 1971 he moved to Dayton, OH, and joined the Journal-Herald staff. He held various positions there, including education reporter and sports writer. He covered the Cincinnati Bengals football team for 2 years. He also worked as a copy editor and television columnist. While working in Dayton he met Mary Jane, and they were married there in 1981. In 1985, Bob became the editor of the Michigan City Dispatch in Michigan City, IN. His first daughter, Kara, was born there in 1986. He held that position until 1990 when he moved to Terre Haute, IN, to become editor of The Terre Haute Tribune-Star. In 1991, he became editor of the Sheboygan Press and remained in that position until 1998 when he went on medical disability due to advancing Parkinson’s disease. It was in Sheboygan that they lost their daughter Kara to cancer when she was 8 years old. In 1997, they welcomed daughters Tasha (5) and Sasha (4) into their lives and adopted them in 1998. The girls are now wonderful, young adults. Bob was predeceased by his daughter Kara and his parents Beryl and Owen Schumacher. He leaves behind his wife Mary Jane; his two daughters Tasha and Sasha Schumacher; and brothers Larry (Kathleen) Schumacher and Jim (Lisa) Schumacher. He also leaves niece Jennifer (Lou) Tristano and her three children; and nephews Max and Zac Schumacher, and David (Charyse) Jarven. He also leaves sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and numerous relatives and friends. We would like to extend a sincere thank you for the care given to Bob by Hospice of the Upstate, his nurse, Beverly and friendly aide, Joann, as well as his caregiver for over a year, Colton Allison. We are most grateful for our friend, Christie Moroso, Bob’s physical therapist who has kept him mobile for so many years. Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 3:00pm at The Mackey Mortuary. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 1:00 – 2:30pm at the mortuary. There will be a private burial service in Ohio at a later date. Online registry available at www.mackeymortuary.com