Obituary for Kent Paul Schuchmann

Kent Paul Schuchmann, 78, of West Union, IA passed away on March 13th, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, West Union, IA.

Kent was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 1946, in Hampton Iowa. His adoptive parents were Clarence and Lois (Kiel) Schuchmann of Hawkeye, IA. He grew up on the Schuchmann family farm and attended North High, West Union graduating in May 1964. After graduating high school, he served in the military for four years at Point Magu Naval Base in California, testing air-to-air guided missiles. He was honorably discharged in 1968. After leaving the Navy, Kent was a Doctor of Chiropractic for seventeen years and then worked at Dundee Castings in Ida, MI for twenty years.

On February 26th, 1967, Kent married his high school sweetheart Patricia Ann Conklin and were united in marriage in Alpha, Iowa. They moved many times together, from Ventura, CA to Davenport, IA then back to Ventura, CA, then back to Iowa through New Hampton, Cresco, and Riceville, up to Michigan in Lambertville and Temperance, and then finally back to Iowa in West Union, raising two sons along the way.

Kent loved helping people, had a good sense of humor, and was very proud of his 1974 Barracuda Green golf cart. Being the first resident to use a golf cart around town, Kent was the first person in West Union to be issued a golf cart license, at his insistence. When the fairgrounds were busy, Kent would always offer rides back and forth from the parking lot to those who needed it, as well as running small errands around town to help friends out. Kent had a strong sense of service and leadership and over the years was a active in many different philanthropic and service organizations such as the Jaycee’s in New Hampton, IA; the Shriners (Provost Motorcycle Unit); Riceville UMC Administrative Council; Riceville Community Club; Cub Scout Pack Leader and Scoutmaster, Riceville; American Legion Post 514 Commander Ida, MI; National Active & Retired Federal Employees of NE IA President; West Union UMC Administrative Council; Fayette County Historical Center Board; Masonic Lodge #69 and was active with the Fayette County Fair Board and Fayette County Speedway Committee. Additionally, Kent could be seen driving his 1939 Farmall H in tractorcades and of course his lime green (barracuda green) golf cart around town visiting, making people laugh and having an opinion on all matters unique to his perspective.

Kent is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Patricia; his two sons, Chad (Amber) Schuchmann of North Carolina, and Todd (Kristin) Schuchmann of Florida; his sister Alayne (Jim) McMillan of California; eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in West Union. Inurnment with military rites will be held at Bethel Cemetery, rural Hawkeye. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Friday, March 22nd at the United Methodist Church in West Union and for one hour preceding services at the Church on Saturday. There will be a Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m. Friday at the church conducted by Masonic Lodge # 69 of West Union. Memorials may be sent to the Fayette County Ag Service (Fair), the Fayette County Historical Society or the Masonic Lodge #69 of West Union, IA.