In Memory of Clarissa "Boots" Schumann

Clarissa “Boots” Schumann, age 87, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 20, 2023, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Richard A. Salcido will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Clarissa Ann “Boots” (Ehrig) Schumann, was born on March 22, 1935, in Battle Creek, Iowa. She was the youngest of nine children born to Antone and Clarissa (Leliefeld) Ehrig. She was raised in Battle Creek and graduated from Battle Creek High School with the class of 1954. As a graduation gift, Boots received a beloved Gibson guitar.

After graduation, Boots relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, with her sister Lucille. Boots worked at a bank and enjoyed cutting albums of her favorite artist. The artist that meant the most to Boots was Hank William Sr. After his death, she was so saddened that she wrote a letter to Hank’s mother and explained how much he meant to her. Boots was very surprised to receive a letter back from Hank’s mother. She then moved to Ida Grove, Iowa, to help care for her dad who was ill.

On April 20, 1959, Boots married Merle Schumann in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove. The couple were blessed with five children: Peg, Jim, Rick, Doug and Karen.

In the 60’s, Boots worked outside of the home as a nurse’s aide at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove where she worked for almost 20 years. Tired of being on her feet, Boots went to work at Byron Originals and then later the local daycare in town.

Boots enjoyed visiting with friends and meeting them for coffee at Albrecht’s Pharmacy daily. She liked playing cards and her guitar. Sometimes she would also sing with the Next of Kin band. If she wasn’t singing, she was dancing and enjoying family. Boots was a dedicated member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove.

Left to embrace her memory are her children, Peggy (Dean) Geerdes of Plano, TX, Jim (Connie) Schumann of Plano, TX, Rick (Linda) Schumann of Fort Worth, TX, Doug (Mary) Schumann of Omaha, NE and Karen Schumann-Arbegast of Ida Grove, IA; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Antone and Clarissa Ehrig; siblings: Edgar “Red”, Cyril “Zip”, Leo, Rita, Robert “Rusty”, Chuck, Lucille and Louise; husband Merle Schumann; and grandson Anthony.