Herman Shuman, obituary

 

James Shuman, me and Herman Shuman (82), 1998

 Herman was the grandson of my grandfather's older sister, Sarah.  We were second cousins. I had met the family in 1949 traveling with my grandparents, and again in 1998 when we went to Pendelton, IN to visit them. James Shuman, his son who is my age, is a genealogy guide for the various Brethren groups, and we'd had discussions on the internet.  He was visiting from California, so we decided to meet and exchange information. Herman and I continued to write at Christmas, and he called me a few years before his death to let me know he'd been ill and wasn't sending cards.

"Herman Shuman, son of Luther and Florence (Miller) Shuman was born November 21, 1916, near Pendleton in Madison County, Indiana in the home where he lived for 93 years. He was baptized into the Old German Baptist Brethren Church on August 25, 1935, to which he remained faithful.

He was married to Ruby Reavis, daughter of Henry and Mary (Long) Reavis, on March 28, 1937, and together they raised four children. He passed away in his sleep on November 24, 2009, at the age of 93 years and three days.

He spent his working years as a farmer. He was a minister in the Old German Baptist Brethren Church for over 60 years.

His companion was called away on April 5, 1994, after 57 years together. He continued in generally good health for another 10 years. Then a weak heart and the accumulated problems of the years began to afflict him.

In February 2005, he fell while in Florida, and was in and out of the hospital at Lakeland, and was finally transferred to a hospital in Anderson, Indiana. At that time, his daughter Lois moved in with him and looked after him for the remaining years. For the past year, his daughter, Sara gave him the nursing care he needed, as he was in and out of the hospital numerous times.

Through it all, he remained cheerful and uncomplaining, and he gave a good testimony to those around him. He authored several books, and he working on a history of the brethren in Central Indiana at the time his health declined.

He will be keenly missed by his two sons and two daughters, James and his wife, Dorla of Modesto, California, David and his wife, Virginia, Sara Miller and her husband, Randy, and Lois all of Pendleton; five grandsons; four granddaughters; seven great-grandsons; 11 great-granddaughters; one great-great-granddaughter; and a brother-in-law, Paul Reavis and his wife, Thelma of Rossville, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pendleton Emergency Ambulance, P.O. Box 165, Pendleton, Indiana 46064."

Herman was the author of "The Country Preacher," a biography of Elder Solomon Stoner of the Old German Baptist Brethren.  There is one photo in the book of Herman and his family with Elder Stoner in 1951 in Canada. Ruby, Solomon and Herman standing, David, Sara and James in front; Lois was born in 1952.

Update:  I received an e-mail from Cousin James in January 2010.

"I am very sorry to be the one to tell you that my father passed away at the age of 93 years, 3 days, on November 24, 2009 (I thought my sister Lois had notified you of that). He had been in gradually declining health for the past few years, and especially the past 14 months. He had been taken to the hospital many times during those months, and had returned yet again with a serious infection. He appeared to be responding to treatment, and we were hopeful. He had slept during the evening, then was awake and visiting at 11 - 11:30 pm with Sara, who was spending the night in the recliner beside his bed. She told him she was dimming the lights so they could both get some sleep and he cheerfully said, "All right!" Soon he was asleep again, and she drifted off, only to be roused in less than an hour by the nurse tapping her knee. She said, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but your father just passed away." Sara is certain there was no struggle or unusual sound at all, since she had been caring for him daily for over a year and was alert to his calls for assistance.

So his passing was as easy and peaceful as could have been hoped for. As the minister said at his funeral, "He crossed over Jordan nearly dry-shod." And although we miss him greatly, because his mind was clear and sharp to the very end, we rejoice that he was finally freed from a body that was no longer cooperating with him very well at all; it was taking most of his time and energy just to stay alive, and there were fewer "good days" in between increasing lengths of "bad days."

We are adjusting to not having an older generation to look to and care for, but it will take quite a while to finish up his estate. My brother David, who has Parkinson's, is the "surviving trustee" of his revocable living trust, which held all his assets, and sister Lois is assisting him in doing some of the legwork and making the phone calls, etc. that are required. My wife and I have already committed to spending 6 weeks or more there next summer to help distribute his personal property as we go through a houseful of "stuff" accumulated over 93 years (he was born in that house!)."

Update 2017: When I noticed that David, the younger son,  had Parkinson's at the time of his father's death, I checked for his name, and found that he had died in May 2016.

"PENDLETON- David Lee Shuman, 75, of Pendleton, died May 28, 2016 in his home while surrounded by his loving family after a 20-year-long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born December 28, 1940 in Anderson to the late Herman and Ruby Shuman.

He was a graduate of Wabash College and Purdue University. He worked with computers at First Savings for 15 years and then at Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis for 15 years until Parkinson's Disease forced him to retire.

He enjoyed fishing, landscaping, studying the Scriptures, computer technology, and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church where he served the Lord faithfully till death.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Virginia Ann (Terry); three children, Jeffrey (Tricia) Shuman, Bethany (Craig) Skiles, and Kathleen (Randy) Hufford; 11 grandchildren, Lindsay (Brad) Graybill, Brandon (Ruth) Skiles, Kelly (Rick) Land, Katelyn Hufford, Morgan (Clark) Deaton, Ashley Hufford, Mandalyn Skiles, Justin Hufford, Megan Hufford, Hallee Shuman, and Trent Shuman; �and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings, James (Dorla) Shuman, Sara (Randy) Miller, and Lois Shuman; along with several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, May 30, 2016 at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service and Crematory, Lahm Chapel, 211 E. State St., Pendleton, Indiana 46064.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, near Pendleton with the home brethren officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Pendleton.

A special thanks to Dr. Goshert, Dr. Stevens, Hospice, our church family, and Dennis and Betty Hopkins."