John Schmauss, 70

Oct. 17, 1951 —

April 21, 2022

 

CRESCO - John A. Schmauss, age 70, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at home surrounded by his family.

A visitation will be held at Notre Dame Catholic Church on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 from 4-7 p.m. with a rosary recited at 3:30 p.m. and a scripture service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, with Father Jacob Rouse officiating. Visitation will continue for one-hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be at State Line Cemetery, rural Harmony, Minn., next to his son Todd.

John Arnold Schmauss was born on Oct. 17, 1951, in Cresco, the son of Francis and Bernice (O’Brien) Schmauss. He attended Crestwood High School, where he wrestled and graduated with the class of 1969. 

In his younger years, John enjoyed playing on the Sovereign Grain fastpitch softball team and bowling. After graduating from high school, he worked for Manley and Linda Bigalk, helping package honey and as a farm hand. 

On Jan. 19, 1974, John married Nancy Schoeberl at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cresco. The couple raised three boys, Thomas, Todd and Brady. 

John began working for the City of Cresco in 1984 with the Street Department, later becoming a street supervisor, retiring in 2014. He enjoyed all of his coworkers and the friendships that developed. 

John was a true outdoorsman, enjoying trapping, hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed his yearly trip with family and friends to Black Duck Lake. He was gifted with the ability to strike up a conversation and befriend everyone. If he saw someone that he knew, John always made the time to stop and see how life was treating them and slip a joke into the conversation. He enjoyed when people would stop by the house for a visit. He liked watching football and was an avid Bears fan. He also enjoyed attending all of his grandchildren’s sporting events.  

In November 2017, John was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. For the last four-and-a-half years, he fought daily to have another day with his family. His doctor gave him a year to live at the original diagnosis. Now they call him a miracle because he lived three-and-a-half years beyond what they expected. 

He dearly loved time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren. Even though he had been so sick, he strived every day to make their lives better. 

John is survived by his wife of 48 years, Nancy Schmauss of Cresco; two sons, Thomas (Laura) Schmauss of Ridgeway, Iowa and Brady (Megan) Schmauss of Denver, Iowa; four grandchildren, Mitchell and Carter Schmauss and Cora and Pearce Schmauss; siblings, Connie (Robert) Whitinger of Ankeny, Iowa, Nancy (Maurice) Meyers of Rochester, Minn., Michael (Mary) Schmauss of Denver, Carol (Michael) Stokes of Chatfield, Minn. and Alan Schmauss of Cresco; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen Schmauss of Cresco, Karen (L.W.) Bruce of Kingsland, Ga., Sue Schoeberl of Ankeny, Kevin Schoeberl of Cresco, Mark (Nancy) Schoeberl of Plano, Texas and Ron Duneman of St. Louis, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Bernice; son, Todd; brothers, Merlin and Richard; brother-in-law, Rick Schoeberl; and mother and father-in-law, Eugene and Elsie Schoeberl.