Howard E. Schoellerman

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ Howard E. Schoellerman, 83, of rural Hawarden, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

   Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 5, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, LCMS in Hawarden with Rev. Joshua Lowe officiating. Burial will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, also at Trinity Lutheran Church, LCMS in Hawarden. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family. 

   Howard Eugene Schoellerman was born September 23, 1940, on a farm 4 miles east of Ireton, Iowa, the son of John and Hazel (Johnson) Schoellerman. He attended Logan Country School, and he enjoyed working more than anything he could learn from a book, and so he went through the 11^th grade.

   Howard married Jule Charma Lee Pliska on March 5, 1960, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, Iowa. Together they farmed east of Alcester in Union County, South Dakota, where they raised their two sons, Randy and Kevin. Howard had been a farmer from the time he was able to put a horse to a plow. He really enjoyed working with the land. Over the years, they had chickens, pigs, and cattle, but he really enjoyed watching the crops grow.

   Besides enjoying the farm life, he really enjoyed hunting for faith antelopes and fishing. When his sons were small, they would do the chores up quick and head to the Sioux River to catch channel catfish. He taught both Randy and Kevin about hunting and fishing. They really had some fun times telling “Big” fish stories.

   Going on vacation to Branson, Missouri to see his Aunt Bertha was a great time for the whole family, they went fishing and to Silver Dollar City. They always had trout for breakfast. Many trips were also made to the Black Hills or Pickstown for camping and fishing.

   Howard’s family would like to give special thanks to Norma Petry and Karen Weyen for their kindness in sending notes, their visits, and making it a point to keep up Howard’s spirits.

   He is survived by his wife, Jule; son, Kevin and wife Julie of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 5 grandchildren, Hillary (Chad) Andrews of Beresford, South Dakota, Whitney Schoellerman of Cranston, Rhode Island, Erin  (Collin) Zwart of Miller, South Dakota, John (Veronica Witts) Schoellerman of Beresford, and Katie (Travis) Gerlach of Baltic, South Dakota; 3 great-grandchildren, Carilee, Oakleigh, and Elliana; sister, Joyce Clay of Beresford; brother, Gordon (Donna) Schoellerman of Alcester, South Dakota; Jule's siblings and nephews and nieces.

   Howard was preceded in death by his parents; son, Randy on September 13, 2022; and brother-in-law, Darrel Clay.