Obituary of Kenneth R. Schumacher

Kenneth R. Schumacher, 64, of Iowa City and Ames, died Friday, February 14, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. A Celebration of Ken's Life will be held at a later date, with location and time to be announced. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @www. gayandciha.com. Gay & Ciha Funeral Service of Iowa City is caring for Ken's family and his arrangements. Kenneth Robert Schumacher was born May 1, 1949, in Manning, Iowa, the son of John and Wanda (Shride) Schumacher. Following graduation from Coon Rapids High School, he attended and later graduated from Iowa State University, where he also did his graduate studies. Ken married Dana Starkey on May 27, 1978, in Ames. His career in theatre production began at the Iowa State Center in Ames, and continued with the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, the World (now Fitzgerald) Theatre in St. Paul, MN, and for the past nine years, Hancher Auditorium. He was an ardent supporter of the arts, and particularly loved dance and art glass. His family includes his wife, Dana, their two sons, Kurt and Peter Schumacher all of Ames; his father, John of Coon Rapids, IA; his brothers and their spouses, Steve and LuAnn Schumacher of Tucson, AZ and Jeff and Melinda Schumacher of Blue Springs, MO; his dear "Gang of Eight" friends; and his Hancher family at the University of Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial donations be made to Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa or to the Ken Schumacher Memorial at the Iowa State University Museums.