In Memory of William L. Schirrmacher

William Ludwig Schirrmacher, age 90, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at his residence of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Private Family Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2020, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa. Committal Services are open to the public and will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 10, 2020, in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. A Visitation will be held on Friday, October 9, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home in Ida Grove, Iowa.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, masks are encouraged and social distancing rules apply. 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

William Ludwig “Bill” Schirrmacher was born on March 27, 1930, in Marcus, Iowa, to Gustav and Dora (Kruse) Schirrmacher. At the age of 10, he drove a tractor to aid the family in their move to his forever home on a farm outside of Ida Grove, Iowa. He was an amazing athlete assisting his high school basketball team to victory as their center. He loved everything sports! He was a first-generation American with parents from the “old world.” This resulted in interesting stories and interactions with family members from Germany and those that had immigrated. 

In 1959 while working for Ruth and Karl Hoffman, he met the love of his life, Joan Graham, at the Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. Joan was showing the calf and Bill was the stockman.  They were married on September 18, 1960. They had seven children: Richard, Ronald, Susan, Shari, Randy, Roland and Sandy Jo.

Bill worked with his father on the family farm. In 1970, he and Joan purchased the farm from his parents. The two of them created a great farm life. As the children grew older and assumed more responsibilities, Bill started working for Midwest Industries. Later in life, he then transitioned to landscaping for GOMACO and driving a truck for CPS. Bill never formally retired as he could never sit and idle.

His greatest joys in his life were watching his children participate in their various activities. He was an active 4-H leader for the Corwin Go-Getters and assisted many a young man through their teenage years! He was always there to answer a question or offer a suggestion. 

As the family matured, the children married: Tom, Jan, Steve, Jason, Andrea, Kristi, and Jeff. This resulted in 14 grandchildren: Ryne (Kristin), Brad (Reese), Teel (Ashley), Brandon, Kalie (Coley), Tyler, Skye, Stephanie, Jacob, Jace, Emma, Sadie, Will and Dain. Having 14 grandchildren, Bill delighted in spending time attending their sporting events and activities. Bill was the proud great grandpa of Jackson, Elyse, Hanna, and Laine with more on the way.

As work life slowed down, it was replaced by the activities of the grandchildren; assisting Ron, Jan, and Brandon with the farm; visiting children in Colorado and Washington state; and his late brother and sister-in-law, Wendell and Darlene, in California. He liked to travel but relished the farm and his home on the land! Bill liked all things lemon whether it was bars, juices, or other variations. Joan and Bill filled the later years with jigsaw puzzles, going to the casino and playing the machines, playing cards, sitting on the driveway watching the cars drive by, kitties playing, and going to coffee.