Joy P. Schumacher

Joy P. Schumacher loved the outdoors, his wife Helen said.

“He was happiest when he was outside, even when he had to cut the grass,” she said.

He likely developed that passion for the outdoors when he was a child growing up on the family farm in the Town of Saukville, his wife said.

But it manifested itself in the many outdoor activities he pursued throughout his life, she added.

Mr. Schumacher loved to fish, and he relished the times he and his fishing buddy, his son-in-law John Kuczmarski, spent up north. They not only fished the lakes in summer but went ice fishing in winter, his wife said.

Mr. Schumacher also relished time outside playing and watching baseball, she said.

“He loved baseball. Baseball was everything to him,” she said.

Mr. Schumacher cherished his role as an assistant coach for the Saukville Little League teams, teaching youngsters how to play the sport he loved, his wife said, and he loved to attend his son Thomas’ hardball games.

He was an avid fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, as well as the University of Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers.

“I don’t think he ever missed a game — unless our son played at the same time,” his wife said.

Mr. Schumacher died Monday, July 2, at Cedar Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cedarburg. He was 89.

Mr. Schumacher was a native of Saukville, born on Nov. 11, 1928, to Joseph and Barbara Weiss Schumacher.

He met Helen Duchane of Illinois while she was in high school, visiting relatives in the Saukville area, and they married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Saukville on Aug. 26, 1950.

“He was a good man. We grew up together in our marriage,” his wife said. “He was a great husband and father. He was my best friend.”

Mr. Schumacher worked as a rigger for Wisconsin Electric Power Co., traveling between power plants for work.

In his spare time, he enjoyed bowling and tinkering with electronics.

Mr. Schumacher is survived by his wife Helen of Grafton; children Judy (Dick) Helm of Saukville, Thomas of Grafton and Lynn (John) Kuczmarski of Tomahawk; grandchildren Ryan Helm, Rickey (Katie) Helm, Laura (Jamie) Doneau, Mackenzee Kuczmarski, Kristin (Kyle) Smith and Jessica Schumacher; and two great-grandchildren.

He is further survived by his sister Betty (Bert) Kultgen of Saukville.

A prayer service with communion will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 6, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grafton. Deacon Al Lazaga will officiate.

Visitation will be at the church Friday from 9 a.m. until the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Joseph Catholic Parish are suggested.

Funeral arrangements are being handled through Mueller Funeral Home, Cedarburg.