Edward A. Schumacher, 93, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025 in The Villages, Florida, after a brief illness. Ed grew up in Chicago. After his marriage to Dolores in 1955, they lived in Oak Lawn, Illinois for several years then moved to Leopolis, Wisconsin in the mid-1960s. In 1968, Ed and his family returned to Illinois. He lived in Midlothian for more than 50 years and then in the Peace Village retirement community in Palos Park for several years before relocating to Florida earlier this year.
Ed was the beloved husband of the late Dolores (nee Zachwieja). Ed and Dolores were married for 57 years from 1955 until Dolores’ death in 2012.
Survived by his daughters Mary (the late Daniel) Burke and Linda (Michael) Burke, sister-in-law Mary Ann (the late James) McKeon, and many nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.
Preceded in death by his wife Dolores; his mother and father Alice and Adam Schumacher; his sister Marilyn and brother-in-law Paul Starcevich; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Sophie and James Zachweija; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Eleanor and Harry Serafin; and brother-in-law James McKeon.
Ed learned the auto mechanic trade while serving in the Army during the Korean War. He brought that knowledge back to the States with him after his discharge from the military, and he eventually became a mechanic, mainly working on diesel trucks. He worked at several companies throughout his career, but he worked at Ozinga the longest, keeping their cement trucks running. The Ozinga family trusted his skills so much that they asked him to fix their personal cars when they needed work. Ed always loved fixing things, and he did all of the family home maintenance work himself.
After Ed retired from full-time work, he worked at various part-time jobs to keep busy before fully retiring. For quite some time, he was the MASH bus driver for the Village of Midlothian.
Ed was on the basketball team at Chicago Vocational School in the early 1950s. His background as an athlete made him a big believer in physical fitness and he lived those beliefs every day of his life. He participated in adult basketball leagues until his legs told him he couldn’t do that anymore. Before health clubs became popular, he did his exercises in the living room. He went to the gym daily after he retired, and he walked as much as he could.
Ed loved to fish, and in his younger days he went on fishing trips with friends to places in Canada that can only be reached by plane. He spent many vacations with Dolores and their friends at lakeside cabins in Wisconsin and Michigan where fishing was always a part of each day.
Ed and Dolores always had an active social life and made many friends along the way. They joined bowling leagues both as a couple and individually, and they loved to play pinochle. They enjoyed traveling both as a couple and with a group, and Ed especially loved train travel. Ed was also an active member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church. For many years, he was on the team of people who managed the Luminaria fundraising project jointly with St. Christopher Church. After Dolores’ death, Ed kept up his social life by meeting friends for coffee daily. After he moved to Peace Village in 2021, he made more friends there and he became an active member of their community, so much so that he was asked to meet with prospective tenants and talk about his experiences there.
Family was very important to Ed. He never wanted to be the center of attention, but he was always there for his family in his quiet, unassuming way. We will all miss his steady presence in our lives.
Memorial Visitation Friday 1/16/26 at the Hickey Memorial Chapel 4201 W. 147th St. Midlothian, IL 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Family will receive friends Saturday 1/17/26 at St. Stephen Lutheran Church 147th & Kildare Midlothian, IL. 9:30 a.m. until time of Memorial Service at 10:30 a.m.