Gerald Dean Schulmeier

Gerald Dean Schulmeier passed away on December 28, 2023 at the age of 62 after a long, hard battle with cancer.

Gerald (Deany to his friends and family) was born on March 21, 1961, and was the youngest of four children born to the late Irvin Sr. and Virginia (Schneider) Schulmeier. Gerald grew up working on the family dairy farm on Toepperwein Road and after graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School he focused full-time on keeping the farm running. Like all true farmers know, working the farm means learning to always be prepared to handle any kind of issue and becoming a master problem solver. Gerald is easily remembered by his friends and family as a dairy farmer, rancher, plumber, electrician, auto and large equipment mechanic, welder, builder, large animal veterinarian and an attentive caregiver to his parents as age set in and their health declined. He even took the time to learn many of his mama’s recipes and cook them for everyone just as she would.

In the little time he could find between the daily morning and evening cow milkings, planting, bailing and routine repairs around the farm he enjoyed gardening, welding handmade barbeque pits, hunting, fishing, smoking briskets, processing homemade sausage and the occasional outing to Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s or a quick afternoon on the boat fishing with his best friend, late SAPD Officer Joe Graham.

At 6’4” Gerald was a shy and gentle giant who usually preferred the company of his animals over people and never met a cat or dog who didn’t instantly like him. While he never had children of his own, he passed on his quick wit, strong work ethic, love of critters and enjoyment of the outdoors on to his nieces and nephews. He also took great joy in introducing them to Beavis and Butt-Head, Nintendo and riding his go-carts. After his body didn’t allow him to work outside like he wanted to, he enjoyed listening to 50’s through 80’s music on his radio, eating pinto beans in bulk, snacking on evening sweets and working on sudoku puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and computer games with his sister-in-law and chief caregiver, Judy.

Gerald is survived by his siblings Irvin Schulmeier Jr. (Judy), Lorene Kobernat (Cory) and Gary Schulmeier (Angela), his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, all his orange cats and his Blue Heeler dogs Ally and Sydney.