FRANCIS A. SCHEMIONEK SR.

Francis A. Schemionek Sr., 86 of Devils Lake, ND passed away early Sunday morning, May 20th, 2012 at Mercy Hospital with loving family at his side. Funeral Services for Francis will be held on Friday, May 25th, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Jeff Nicla officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Francis will be his grandsons Jamie Schemionek, Darren Schemionek, Trevor Zens, Brandon Larson, Zach Schemionek, Garret Schemionek, Julian Hoey and Jade Hoey. Honorary Bearers will be Francis’ granddaughters Misty Mathews, Ramsey Hoey, Parker Hoey, Danielle Moore and Jessica Moore. Reading the Scriptures will be Darcy Olson and Dan VanWinkle. Francis Arthur, one of twin boys born to William and Marie (Fish) Schemionek Sr. was born on January 16, 1926 at Loma, North Dakota where he grew up and was educated. He worked on the family farm until he entered the United States Marine Corp on October 29, 1951 serving his country during the Korean War. He served as an MP (Military Police) and was honorably discharged on November 28, 1952 at San Diego, California with the rank of Private First Class. He received several commendations including the Sharp Shooter Award. After his discharge, he worked at a factory in Chicago for a time then returned to North Dakota to the farm. The family moved to Devils Lake in the mid 1950’s. Francis and his friend, Mike Hager began as owners and operators of F&M Construction. They built several churches, apartment buildings, some of the government housing and numerous homes in the Lake Region area. Francis met and fell in love with Anna Mae Thompson and they were united in marriage on April 24, 1965 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Francis continued in the construction business, eventually working as the foreman for a construction company out of Minneapolis and later a company out of Grand Forks. In later years, Francis worked at Lake Region State College then in 1979 he began working for the Devils Lake Public School System, frequently putting his carpentry skills to work, working in maintenance and also as a Bus Driver well into his 70’s. Francis may have officially retired from the School System but he never retired from carpentry. He spent his retirement years helping his sons remodel their homes and undertaking many woodworking projects for his daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Francis was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the VFW where he served with the Color Guard for many years and a former member of the American Legion, Eagles and Elks Lodges. After Francis and Ann married, raising his sons and being a family was the most important commitment in his life. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing and camping as a family. Any hobby included his sons, such as riding motorcycles and snowmobiles. He was a “family man” and he leaves us with a legacy of love and devotion to his wife, sons, grandchildren and all of his precious family members. Francis is survived by his wife of 47 years, Ann; sons Jeff (Brenda) Schemionek of McVille, ND, Jim (Laurie) Schemionek of Lakeville, Minnesota, Gerald (Monica) Schemionek of Glenwood City, Wisconsin, Francis (Kris) Schemionek Jr. of Devils Lake and Kevin (Benita) Schemionek of Farmington, Minnesota; thirteen grandchildren Jamie (Megan) Schemionek and Darren (Crystal) Schemionek; Trevor (Melony) Zens, Brandon (Katie) Larson and Misty (Josh) Mathews; Zach Schemionek and Garret Schemionek; Ramsey Hoey, Parker Hoey, Julian Hoey and Jade Hoey; Danielle (Tyler) Moore and Jessica Moore; four great grandchildren Amara, Kiya, Taylor and Leland; sister Irene Eng of Devils Lake; “his long lost son” Ricky Larson and his family; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Ilene Schemionek of Devils Lake, Raymond and Theresa Thompson of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Donald and Kathy Thompson of Fargo, ND and Richard and Janice Thompson of Mayville, ND; many nieces and nephews; canine companion, Rocko. Francis was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother Frank and brother Bill Schemionek; sisters Mavis and Shirley Schemionek and Wilma Baker; father-in-law and mother-in-law Clyde and Alice Thompson.