Joseph C. Schumacher

POLSON - Joseph C. Schumacher, 69, a native of Montana, died Aug. 27, 2004, at Village Health Care in Missoula.

Joe was born on Jan. 17, 1935, to Tony and Eula (Couture) Schumacher at Missoula Community Hospital.

Joseph attended school in both Polson and Kalispell. Joe graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell in 1953. Joseph excelled in art and continued his education in Los Angeles, at the Art Center School of Design.

He served in the United States Army in the late 1950s and spent the majority of his military time in the Special Forces based in Fort Ord, Calif.

Joseph married Judy Stigers and to this union two children were born: J Spencer and Jasa Jawn. Although later divorced, Joe and Judy remained good friends.

During the early years of his art career he did commercial art for advertising agencies as well as private clients. After several years in this capacity he made the decision to devote all his time to his art and left the corporate world behind.

Joseph was a talented, admired and accomplished artist whose works included oil and acrylic painting, pen and ink drawings, among other media. His works were exhibited in many galleries throughout the Western United States, including President Nixon's Western White House in LaJolla, Calif.

Throughout his life he lived in a variety of locales including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Depoe Bay, Ore. However, he returned home to his beloved Montana for the last decade of his life.

Joseph leaves behind a son, J Spencer Schumacher of Inglewood, Calif.; a daughter, Jasa Jawn Schumacher of Denver; his brother and sister-in-law, Jon and Ione Schumacher of Missoula, as well as many other loving relatives; great aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, and other family members.

He maintained friendships over a great swath of geography, staying in touch with all in spite of distance.

His sense of humor, intelligence and affability made him someone who is remembered with admiration and esteem.

Joe was an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe and had done many Native American paintings.

The family requested that donations be given to the Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, MT.

A graveside service was held Aug. 31 at Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.

Arrangements were by Grogan Funeral Home of Polson.