Roger Larry Schemmel, 84, a resident of Davenport, died peacefully on April 21, 2024, at Clarissa Cook Hospice House. Visitation will be at The Runge Mortuary on Thursday, April 25, at 11 a.m., with the service immediately following at noon. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Roger was born on Oct. 20, 1939, in Chester, S.D., the son of Rudy and Vera (Nagle) Schemmel. He married his high school sweetheart, Julia Mae Kallaus, on April 4, 1959, in Davenport. They were blessed with five children and 61 years of marriage before her death on Aug. 17, 2020. Roger retired from Alcoa (Arconic) after 36 years of working in the Foil Mill. He then worked part time at Rivermont Collegiate as a custodian for three years. Roger served in the National Guard, and he enjoyed planting and harvest season at Gladys and Allen Plambeck’s farm, fishing, the local casinos, scratch tickets, playing any card game, driving antique tractors at the Fair and the NASCAR pool that many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in. He was Julie’s caregiver for the 12 years she battled dementia and he lived independently with Parkinson’s disease until a March 4 fall at his home. Over the years, he and Julie enjoyed square dancing, gardening, camping and the many vacations to Wisconsin, Florida, Hawaii, California and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado but mostly, he enjoyed the smile on Julie’s face while spending time with family. Roger was proud of his children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He will be missed by his many nieces/nephews and everyone who knew him. For a man of very few words, he sure had a lot to say at times.
Those left to honor his memory include children Roger Jr. (Lori), Long Grove, Rita (Tom) Hoeksema, Davenport, Rick, Davenport, Rebecca (Brett) Rodriguez, Loveland, Colo., Robin (Brad) Wilson, Iowa City, sister-in-law Deanna Schemmel, Durant, brothers/sisters-in-law Donovan (Carolyn) Blake, Davenport, Charles (Linda) Kallaus, Pittsburg, Kan. Those who preceded him in death include his wife Julie, daughter in law Cheryl Schemmel, brother Thomas Schemmel, sisters-in law Patricia Pencil and Caryl Kallaus. Memorials can be made to Clarissa Cook’s Hospice House. The family would like to thank the staff at Genesis Health Cardiac Stepdown and Pulmonary Units, Kahl Home and Clarissa Cook Hospice House for their care in his final days. Online condolences and remembrances may be expressed to the family by visiting Roger’s obituary at www.TheRungeMortuary.com.
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