Barbara Schumacher

CANAL VIEW – Barbara Jean Schumacher, 85, passed away on April 4, 2024 at Canal View where she had been a resident.

Barbara was born on September 28, 1938 in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, the eldest child of Harry and Floy (Brumwell) Higgins, and she grew up on the family farm outside of Sarles. She had many happy memories of the farm, such as being flown to school in her uncle’s plane, spending time with her grandparents, and riding her horse, Brownie.

After graduating from Sarles High School, Barbara moved to Minot to work, and it was there that she met an airman from nearby Minot Air Force Base, David Schumacher. They were married on November 21, 1959. From their first move to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi to their last return to Calumet Air Force Station, Barbara raised her family with love through all the changes of schools and while David was away. She taught her children that home is where you make it, even if it isn’t permanent. Barbara baked bread every week and made clothes for her family, passing her love of sewing on to her daughter. Throughout every move, she always had that one box of curtains that she hoped would fit the windows in the next quarters.

After David’s retirement, they traveled across the country, visiting family and doing genealogy research. Some of her favorite trips were along the Alaskan Highway. She deeply loved her home in Mohawk and was an outstanding gardener, taking pride in planning a new flower bed which David would then dig out and she would bring to life. She was a lifelong reader, and also enjoyed crochet and embroidery, ceramics, and stained glass, but her greatest love was her grandchildren.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, David, her parents, David’s parents, a brother-in-law Roy Schumacher and sister-in-law Alice Pfiefer, a niece and a nephew.

She is survived by her children, Peter (Laurie) Schumacher, and Susan (Dean) Rantala, her grandchildren, Sarah (Tyler) Aaron, Michael Schumacher and Marcus Schumacher, her brothers, Paul (Carla) Higgins, Daniel (Debra) Higgins, and Michael (Deborah) Higgins, brother-in-law, Thomas (Rhonda) Schumacher, and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara’s family would like to thank the staff of Gardenview Memory Care and Canal View and Dr. Dawn Lee for the excellent care Barbara received in the last four years of her life.

A mass of Christian burial for Barbra will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet, Michigan. A visitation will take place on Thursday, April 18th, 2024 from 10 – 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet, Michigan.

Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home will be assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.