Max Albert “Gampie” Schumann, Jr., 89, of Midland, Texas beloved, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle departed this life on Saturday March 17, 2012, with his family by his side. He truly loved everyone, especially his God, family and business. Max never met a stranger and would offer the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He has lovingly been called “Gampie” since his oldest granddaughter, Sydney, could not pronounce, Grandpa and Grandma, hence “Gampie” and of course “Gammie”. He will be missed by all who knew him!
Max was the second son of Max Albert Schumann, Sr. and Anna Muehr Schumann, born on November 1, 1922, in Sugar Land, Ft. Bend County, TX. Anna Schumann, Max’s biological mother, passed away when Max was only four years old. His father, not wanting to separate his family, met and married Hattie Schwartz, who came to Texas on one of the Orphan Trains in the early 1920s. Hattie quickly moved in the role of “Momma” to four young boys. Max attended elementary and high school in Sugar Land, TX. Max and his brothers, Robert and Herbert threw newspapers off their bicycles in Sugar Land for $.10 a day. Being enterprising young men, they felt their services were worth more than $.10 a day and asked for a raise. They refused to throw the paper, but gave in when the boss gave them a raise $.12 a day.
A 1944 graduate of Texas A&M University, Max served in the Corps. As an officer and solider during World War II, Schumann served in Italy in the European Theater with the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, building bridges and roads in Italy and Alaska. He told stories about “building bridges only to have the Germans blow them up.” One of the more famous bridges he helped construct was over the River Poe in Italy. Upon the end of his military tour, Max returned to Texas A&M to graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering. Max held a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor for both Texas and New Mexico and also was a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and a Professional Engineer. Returning home after the war, Max met and fell in love with his first wife, Hilda Redman and they married while he was still in the service in 1945.
After graduation he joined the Texas Highway Department as Field Engineer from 1947-1948, located in Sanderson, TX, doing work on US Highway 290 and 285. In 1948, Max headed to Pecos with his growing family, since Sanderson was too isolated for them. They stopped in Midland’s Steak House, just west of downtown, where he joined two fellow war veterans and former Aggies, Pat Stanford and Hank Avery. They convinced Max to put down roots in Midland, instead of moving to Pecos. Max began working for Pat Stanford who was that time Midland’s county surveyor. He remained with Stanford until he, himself was elected County Surveyor in 1952, since Stanford wasn’t candidate for re-election.
Max partnered with D.H. “Doc” Jenkins to form Jenkins & Schumann, where they officed out of the beautiful old Court House in the center of Midland for several years. After Doc’s death in 1962, Max formed Schumann Engineering and later incorporated the business into what is now Schumann Engineering Co., Inc. located in North Pecos Street. All of the Schumann children worked there on and off in one way or another. Currently the eldest daughter, Cindy Klatt, is the office manager and another daughter, Trisha Schumann work to keep the business as Max would have it. Schumann’s business has always been his “7th child!” He believed in providing honest, accurate land surveys in Midland, the surrounding towns and areas of West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. Max has always maintained a high quality of ethics in his business, which is evident by the many years his business thrived. Both clientele and colleagues have often sealed deals with a handshake, in years gone by. He has many former employees who drop in from time to time to see how things are going and reminisce about the early days of surveying, carrying a chain and pins to stake out a well location.
Schumann organized the first Texas National Guard unit in Midland by which Hank Avery designed the armory. He was recently honored by the Permian Basin Chapter 10 of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors as on the “Legends of West”, holding the lowest registration number of 137 for the State of Texas. Max and his family were members of the old St. Georges Catholic Church, now known as St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Max organized the first ice cream social at St. Georges Church which evolved into what is now knows at the St. Ann’s Family Fair. Max was a member of the St. Ann’s Choir under the direction of the late Rebecca Stiles for several years. His strong tenor voice resounded at many weddings and funerals over the years. He loved to sing, and encouraged those around to join in the singing. In addition to singing in the choir, Max was a 4th degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Eucharistic Minister, member of the Lay Carmelite Ministry, helped lead prayers for bereaved families, and past chairman and co-chairman of the annual St. Ann’s Family Fair, where he was also chairman of the public address booth for many years. Many fair going people say it would not be St. Ann’s Fair without Max’s booming voice. He also counted the collection for both St. Ann’s and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church over the years, along with his first wife, Hilda. He was a member of the Texas A&M Century Club and the Midland A&M Former Students Club. Max never missed an Aggie muster and was proudly asked to lead the songs at muster. His singing of the Aggie War Hymn will be missed by all. Max was a volunteer at Midland Memorial with the Hospital Auxiliary.
He is preceded in death by his parents Max A. Schumann, Sr. and Anna Muehr Schumann, his stepmother Hattie Schwartz Schumann, his wife Hilda Redman Schumann, a granddaughter Jacqueline Stuart, his three brothers, and sisters-in-law Herbert and Frances Schumann, Robert and Alice Schumann, and Lawrence Schumann. He also predeceased by Ernest and Dorothy Redman, Sidney Redman, Mary and Pete Chenault, Annie Mae Lobrecht, Elaine and Lucian Harris, J.L. and Bertha Perkins, J.C. Redman, and several nieces and nephews.
Max leaves behind his second wife of 11 years, Dorothy Mueller Schumann, his six children: Cindy Schumann Klatt and her husband Eddie, Ruthie Schumann Barron and her husband Ray, Trisha Schumann, Jody Schumann and his wife Tracie, Mary Schumann Minzenmayer, and Andy Schumann and his wife Liz, all of Midland, Texas. Max is also survived by his 20 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild: Chris Stuart of Kansas City, MO, Mary Stuart Ulmo and Chris, Stephanie Stuart, Angela Stuart Swenson and Bob of San Antonio, TX, Dr. Andrea Stuart Wozniak and Jerry and their children Amelia, Claire and Paul of Boise, ID, Max Stuart of Redondo Beach, CA; Sydney Barron Rowland and Rick and their children Mallory and Tara, Adena Barron and her son Joseph, Bonnie Barron and her children TJ Valdez , his son Noah, Ramie and Nicholas, Mitchell Barron and Tami and their children Kaden, Korbin, Kenadi, Micah Barron and Amanda and their children Gavin and Isabella, Kalee Barron VanMeter and children Aiden and Cambree, and Marcus Barron, all of Midland , TX, Robyn Banks and her son Steven of San Angelo, TX, John Banks and daughters Layne and Hannah, of Midland and Kim Banks Moore and Ben of Pflugerville, TX, Rebekah and Alyson Schumann of Midland, Josh Minzenmayer and Kim and their son Jared of Kemp, TX, Meagan Minzenmayer of Ft. Worth, TX, Brandon Schumann and Jennifer and daughter Shayden, and Christine Schumann of Midland, TX. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, William and Dolores Schumann of New Braunfels and sister-in-law Shirley Redman of Wellborn, TX as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Max also leaves Dorothy’s children Ann Mueller Stuckey and Dan of Katy, TX, Chris Mueller and Jeannine of Lubbock, TX, Paul and Shelia Mueller of Reno, NV and Steve and Becky Mueller of Midland, TX.
We want to thank all the care givers we have come to know, appreciate, and love, over the past several months, Tangee Feazell, Hospice of Midland including Tammy Waters, Laurie Stephens, Linda Basham, Sherry “Chicken Hawk”, and Paula. Above all, we want to thank Dr. Miller for all of the care and concern he has shown our dad all these years, especially the last few months.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel from 6:00pm-7:00pm. A rosary will follow at 7:00pm. The funeral mass will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 10:00am at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with interment at Resthaven Memorial Park of Midland. Condolences may be made at: www.ellisfunerals.com.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations should be made to: Hospice Midland, 911 West Texas, Midland, Texas 79701; St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 1906 West Texas, Midland, Texas 79701; or the charity of your choice.
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