James Schueth

James J. 'Jim' Schueth, 86, New Hampton, died Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by his wife and three sons. Lectors for the service will be Tony Schueth and Taylor Schueth. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Leticia Schueth and Ashley Schueth. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery with Gethro Nullan, Kenny Maupin, Doug Schueth, Sam Schueth, Nathan Schueth, Jeffry Petrie and Bob Manges as pallbearers. Military honors will be conducted by the New Hampton American Legion Post. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Community School. James Jerome Schueth was born May 14, 1929, in New Hampton, IA, the son of Jerome and Irene (Westemeier) Schueth. He received his elementary education at St. Joseph Community School and was a 1947 graduate of the New Hampton High School. Jim continued his education at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1952. In 1951, Jim joined the Air Force, being accepted into Officer Candidate School (OCS). He served as an active duty officer for four years, and then opted for the Air Force Reserves where he served as a Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy, retiring with the rank of Major in 1974. On August 5, 1952, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, he married Sue Petrie of Abingdon, IL. To this union three sons were born. The couple made New Hampton their home in 1953, when he went into business with his father at Schueth Ace Hardware. He was co-owner of the New Hampton retail establishment until 1991, with his brother, Donald Schueth joining him in 1960. The store remains in the Schueth family, now in the third generation, under the proprietorship of Douglas Schueth and Jackie Perkins. In 1974, he joined the Iowa Retail Hardware Association board where he eventually served a two-year term as chairman. In 1992, Jim was elected to the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors where he served for four terms (16 years), including several as board chairman, choosing not to run for reelection in 2008. Jim was proud of 40 years of community service through business ownership and public service. During his tenure as County Supervisor, he was especially proud of the completion of the Community Service building and finding the financing for the Nature Center at Twin ponds. He would like to be remembered as an honest, hard-working, friendly, energetic, straight-shooting and good natured man who was passionate and devoted to his family, God and community service. His time and talents were used in service to the New Hampton community, where he lived his entire life except for college and active military service. Among his investments in the community were active participation in Holy Family Church, where he served on the Parish Council and the Lions Club, where he joined just a year after them getting their franchise. He also served on both the Light Plant Board and Chamber of Commerce where he was president. At the Chamber, he was proud of being among the leaders of the Main Street initiative, an economic impact program focused on historic preservation. Survivors include his wife of 63-years, Sue; three sons, Steven (Darla) Schueth of Boulder, CO; Peter (Sherrie) Schueth of Indianapolis, IN; Tony (Andrea) Schueth of Ft. Lauderdale; seven grandchildren, Sam Schueth, Dayna Schueth, Nathan Schueth, Taylor Schueth, Samantha Schueth, Leticia Schueth and Ashley Schueth; three great-grandchildren, Joshua Dias, Jackson Schueth and Quintin Schueth; two sisters-in-law, Liz Schueth of Indianapolis, Sandy Schueth of New Hampton; one brother-in-law, Jeff Petrie of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Geraldine Tervo; two brothers, Robert Schueth and Donald Schueth.