HERBERT CHARLES SHOEMAKER
HERBERT CHARLES SHOEMAKER
Herbert Charles Shoemaker, Sr., 88 of City Point, WI, left us peacefully while surrounded by family at his City Point home Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, (approximately 1,200 feet due west of the home where he was born on Jan. 5, 1936).
Herbert joined the army in 1954, served for three years and was stationed in Germany. After his time of service, Herbert married the love of his life Jean Marie Hanutke Sept. 27, 1960. They lived and raised children in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Menomonee Falls, WI, and Lannon, WI, returning to City Point for their retirement in 2005.
Herbert had a natural calling to be useful and active. He served as scout master for Lannon Boy Scout Troop 62, Lieutenant and EMT for the Lannon Fire Department, village trustee for the village of Lannon, volunteer firefighter for City Point, WI, town chairman of City Point, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many.
Herbert spent most of his career as a proud truck driver, logging thousands of miles and hours driving without an accident. Herbert always had a joke, a kind word or a song to sing. He always looked for the positive in situations and thought of others before himself. Even when dealing with all his cancer, it was never about him. Herbert and Jean loved their retirement time together in City Point. Herbert always said, “Once you get that City Point sand in your blood, you always come back.”
Herbert is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jean Shoemaker; children Laurie Siewert of Menomonee Falls, Herbert Jr. (Christina) Shoemaker of Milwaukee and Kristine (Keith) Elliott of Lannon; grandchildren Jennifer Siewert, Hannah Shoemaker, Lukas Elliott (Eagle Scout) and Atticus Elliott (Eagle Scout); great-grandchildren Emma and Addie, Jaxon; siblings Clara (Nick) Gonnering, Shirley (John) Tollaksen, Beverly (Terry) Kimball and Rick Reshel; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Herbert is preceded in death by his parents, Lyman and Clara Shoemaker; stepfather Roman Reshel; brothers: Lyman, Roger, David and Billy Shoemaker; sisters Betty Reshel, Dorothy Herman, Susan Shoemaker, Caroline Russo and Jenny Score; sisters-in-law Doris Shoemaker, Lorraine Shoemaker and Jane (Terry) Smith; brothers-in-law Joe Russo, Robert Ostrowski, Clarence Herrman, Ben Reshel and Bertram Score.
Herbert and Jean would like to thank Jean’s brothers Frank (Pat) and Tom (Dale) Hanutke; Herbert’s sisters Clara (Nick) Gonnering and Beverly (Terry) Kimball, along with their nephew, Jeff Hanutke and his sons, Ethan and Tyler, for being there any time Herbert and Jean needed them. In addition, they’d like to express their gratitude to all the family and friends that regularly checked in on them with kind words of support. Your kindness and generosity will always be treasured.
We’d like to thank the loving nurses and staff of St. Croix Hospice and Edgewater Haven. Their care and respect for Herbert and Jean was beyond exceptional.
A celebration of life luncheon will be held at the City Point Community Center; details to be announced later.
In honor of Herbert’s service to his community, the family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the City Point Volunteer Fire Department.