Bernard “Barney” Philip Schumacher, 98, Bismarck, passed away peacefully, at St. Gabriel Benedictine Living Community, on November 23, under the care of his children. Born December 25, 1926, in Dunn County, ND to Anton and Anna (Funk) Schumacher, German Russian immigrants, Bernard was the tenth of 11 children who survived through infancy, and the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Bernard completed his elementary education at a country school near the family’s farmstead and continued to high school in Dodge, ND. Prior to his high school graduation, Bernard enlisted in the Army on March 23, 1945. Serving at the end of WWII in Yokohama, Japan, just as the Korean conflict began to erupt, Bernard was sent to Korea. As a young North Dakota farm boy who knew how to handle a grain truck, he was given the responsibility of driving supply trucks throughout Korea. Bernard was honorably discharged on October 17, 1946.

Upon his discharge, Bernard used the GI bill to attend the American School of Watchmaking in Los Angeles, CA. After completing this course of instruction, he moved to Hollywood, CA, for one year where he worked at a jewelry store and studied jewelry manufacturing and stone setting. Bernard completed his studies in January of 1949 and returned to North Dakota to work for Britton Jewelers in Dickinson.

During this time, he met his future bride and our wonderful mother Mary Kay Feiler. They were united in marriage on October 9, 1950, at St. Patrick's Church in Dickinson and moved to Linton, ND where they owned and operated Barney's Jewelry.

In 1956, he moved his growing family to Bismarck and opened Community Jewelers which was located on 5th Street adjacent to the Patterson Hotel. In 1963 he closed his retail store and began a watch and jewelry repair business that serviced several jewelry stores in the Bismarck/Mandan area.

With an entrepreneurial spirit and creative and innovative nature, he started a new business, Schumacher Jewelry Manufacturing in 1977. With the help of his wife, children and a strong personal faith, the business flourished with sales across the United States and Canada.

Those left to remember his big heart, twinkling eyes and determined nature are his seven children and spouses: Marylee (Scott) Prebys, Paula Feiler, Bernard Jr. (Cathy), Barry (Patricia), Rebecca (Harley) Engelman, Sara (Scott) Maney, Tom (Tina); sixteen grandchildren: Katherine, Alicia, Ross, Kirstin, Michael, Ian, Brandan, Megan, Erin, Andrew, Peter, John, Amanda, Madelaine, Shauna, Angela; and twenty-three great grandchildren.

Greeting Dad in heaven are his wife and our beloved mother Mary Kay; grandson, Patrick Feiler; and infant granddaughter, Esme Rose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 520 Raymond St, Bismarck, on Tuesday, December 2nd, at 12:30 PM.

Visitation will be held at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck, on Monday, December 1, from 4:00-6:00 PM.

A private family burial will take place later that day at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The family asks that memorials be made to St. Gianna & Pietro Molla Maternity Home, 15605 County Road 15, Minto, ND 58261 or a charity of your choice.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21)