THOMAS R. SCHULER

Thomas R. Schuler, 78 of Munich, ND died on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at Heartland Care Center of pancreatic cancer surrounded by his family and under the care of Altru Hospice. Mass of the Resurrection for Tom will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Munich, ND with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, rural Munich. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, December 26th from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Munich on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Thomas Roman Schuler was born in Munich, ND on March 29, 1936 to Roman and Marguerite (Artz) Schuler. Tom attended school in Munich, graduating from high school in 1954. Tom and Mary Ellen Korb were married in 1957 in St. Boniface Church in Calio. They were members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Munich. They lived in Munich until October of 2014, when they moved to Devils Lake as Tom’s illness progressed. Tom worked for his father in the Schuler Hardware and Implement after graduating from high school. In 1975, Tom and his brother Dick, bought the business from their Dad and operated it until the end of 2002 when they retired. Tom was elected to the City Board in 1970 and served as an Alderman until June, 2000 when he was elected Mayor. Tom was instrumental in getting the city streets paved and the rural water project to Munich. He served as Mayor until 2012. Tom enjoyed bowling when he was younger and spent most summer weekends at Wood Lake. He was a member of the Knight of Columbus, Elks, the Munich Rural Fire Department and the Munich Commercial Club. Tom is survived by his loving family. His wife of 57 years, Mary Ellen; sons Lynn (Barb) Schuler, Maple Grove, MN, Gary (Terri) Schuler, Webster, ND, Mike (Diane) Schuler, Grand Forks; daughters Debra (Jim) Budish, Starkweather, ND, Donna (Paul) Henderson, Calvin, ND and Karen (Justin) Swanson, Devils Lake; twenty grandchildren; brother Harold (Jan) Schuler, Kinsale, VA; sisters Mary (Chuck) Richards, Cook, MN, Marge Bowin, Sterling, CO, Irene (Jack) Meier, Hastings, MN, Linda (Gary) Nyquist, Crossville, TN, Ellen (Stan) Erickson, Grand Forks and Pat Nygaard, Shoreview, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Mildred Deibert and brothers Steve and Richard Schuler. Casket Bearers will be Tom’s grandsons Jason and Cody Schuler, Jordan Swanson and Casey Myklebust and sons-in-law Justin Swanson, Jim Budish and Paul Henderson. Gift Bearers will be grandchildren Lindsay Connolly, Andria Moen, Brady and Halle Schuler, Mandi Wahlin, Adam, Evan, Theodore, Jacob, Elijah and Ariel Henderson, Larissa Fellman, Brandi Schuler, Taylor, Hunter and Parker Swanson. Reading the Scriptures will be Lynn Schuler and the Eucharistic Minister will be Marge (Schuler) Bowin. Music will be provided by St. Mary’s Choir, Kari Hoffmann and Lori Beck.