Birth date: Aug 7, 1939 Death date: Feb 24, 2012
Mr. Earl Joseph Schaub, Sr., age 72, of Muskegon died unexpectedly Friday, February 24, 2012. He was born in Wayne County, MI on August 7, 1939 to Leo and Genevieve (Denoyer) Schaub. Mr. Schaub had worked for Dana Corporation for Read Obituary
Fran
You were truly blessed with a wonderful husband. Your children will be a great comfort to you. Sadly missed, Brian and Roberta Clarke and family
Today from Tulsa OK, I prayed the rosary at the same time it was prayed in MI for my Uncle Earl. I want to share the story of why I felt so Spirit-Filled when I made my Confirmation. It was back in the mid 70's, and I really wanted my Uncle Earl to be my sponsor. However, I was told that because I was a female I had to choose a female sponsor rather than a male. I remember calling my uncle Earl and telling him how I felt. He asked me when my confirmation was going to be, but he didn't mention anything about attending. The evening of my confirmation arrived, and St.Michael's Church was so packed with people that it was hard to tell who was there. I happened to be sitting on the end of an inside pew; and while praying after I came back from communion, someone surprised me with a Big Shoulder Squeeze. I looked up and saw my Uncle Earl with a Huge Smile on His Face. I felt so Filled with the Spirit, because I didn't even know that my Uncle Earl was at my Confirmation. I feel like Uncle Earl was my Sponsor in Spirit. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend his funeral, but I will be there in Spirit.
Our condolences Tony and the entire family. Thank-You for all your help with Labor Day Cars for Cancer car show. May God grant you strength.
All the Different Strokes Car Club members.
He's Gone! Our Valiant Knight of the Marian Grotto!. How we'll miss his strength,
willingness to help, caring and wry comments.
Earl, it was so good to know you. We'll help pray you into Heaven.
Rita A. Miller
Dad thank-you for all of the great memories!!! The laughs, the cries, the hugs, and the most wonderful family anyone could have. You gave so much of yourself to each and everyone you ever met. I'm so thankful to have had you in my life. You will be GREATLY MISSED!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to my Dear Aunt Fran and to all my Cousins. My Uncle Earl has always had a very special place in my heart. I respected and confided in him as I grew up. He gave me hope and encouragement with his many Words of Wisdom. I have very fond memories staying at his home, especially during blueberry picking season. He atteneded my confimation at St. Michael's Church, and I felt so spirit-filled. I wish so much that I could attend his funeral. I will be their in spirit and in prayer. I loved my Uncle Earl and I will miss him dearly.
Sincerely With Love,
Debbie (Schaub) McCollum and Family, Mark, Amanda, & Emily
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Prayers of peace for your family and friends.
The Wittkopp Family
Most everything that I can say about dad also applies to mom. They worked together as a team and never seemed to argue about anything (at least not in front of the kids). It was just a few weeks ago that I was approached by a woman after attending Mass at St. Thomas. I think someone told her I was their son. She explained that she was not a member of the church, but knew my parents went there and was hoping she could catch them to give them a message. She explained that she was a cashier at the Meijer store and my parents always went to her checkout when they bought groceries. She was retiring and wanted them to share in her retirement cake at the store. After I told her I would pass on the message, she proceeded to tell me what wonderful people my parents are. She ended by saying, "but you probably already know that." To which I replied, "Yes, I know."
Dad would take a week off from work to take the family camping at the Arbutus Lakes Campground near Traverse City. Most of the time we were joined by other aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived in or near Traverse City. One memory that comes to mind is when dad found a 'moon' rock. Dad held out the rock, which was maybe a little larger than a softball, and asked if we knew what type of rock it was. When we could not guess, he said, "It is a moon rock. Do you know how you can tell?". Dad then proceeded to hit the 'moon' rock against another rock to break it in half. As he pulled the two pieces apart, he said, "because it says so on the inside." On the inside written in charcoal was the word "MOON".
Dad loved to work in his garden and at one time talked about buying a farm. At different times, we raised rabbits, chickens or pigs. I can remember times when he would proudly announce how none of the food on the table was bought from the store, except for maybe the butter and bread.
Dad was always active in our lives with everything from helping with little league baseball practice to being a timer at high school track and swim meets. I think he may have had more fun at those events than we did. I don't think he ever missed a ball game, track meet, swim meet, or band concert. I think it was because of that involvement why the typical parent/teenager conflicts that some families have was kept to a minimum.
When I turned 18 dad said to me, "I will probably be the best friend you will ever have." I think it was his way of telling me that his role as a teacher and nurturer was now complete. It was time for me to go out into the world to be the person he raised me to be, but he would always be there for me; and he was. He was there for all of us.
Dad was proud of each and everyone of us. He didn't say it so much in words, but you could tell by the glimmer in his eyes and the smile on his face as he watched us carry on with our lives. I know I made a couple mistakes along the way that brought him disappointment, but he would just calmly say "I thought I raised you better than that", and then move on. All in all I like to think that I didn't cause him too much grief.
Dad and I had a few discussions about death and how it eventually comes to each of us. By the stories shared with my brothers and sisters, he had similar discussions with them. Perhaps he was trying to prepare us for this day to help make it easier on us. Dad was always thinking ahead like that. He said that many people try to hold on to their sorrow over the loss of a loved one for too long. They need to take their time to mourn and then move on with their lives. If only it were as easy as he made it sound.
This past year I started telling myself "I need to start spending more time with dad." Even though he seemed to keep going... and going... like the Energizer Bunny I knew time was getting short (I just never expected it to be this short). I would take time off from work just to use up my vacation time and would call dad to see if he needed help with anything. Most times he was occupied helping someone who needed it or spending time at the Senior Center playing cards or bingo
