Louis Schuler, Sr.

Louis E. Schuler, Sr., 92, of Clear Lake, died Saturday, March 22, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minn.  

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Galilean Lutheran Church, 4454 255th St., Hwy. 18 W., Clear Lake, with Rev. Scot McCluskey officiating with Military Honors conducted by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  Visitation with the family will be Friday, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, and one hour preceding the service

 on Saturday at the church.  Interment will be in the Little Point Sable Stone Church Cemetery located on the shores of Lake Michigan near Shelby, Mich., at a later date.  The family is requesting that memorials be made out to Una Vocis Choral Ensemble, Mason City.  

Louis was born to the late George and Merle (Kraemer) Schuler, Feb. 9, 1922 in Griswold, Iowa.  Louie graduated from Griswold High School in 1940 and received a BA from Grinnell College in 1944.  He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII on the island of Guam.  When he returned to the states, he attended the University of Iowa Law School.

Louis married Mildred “Teeny” Hines on June 4, 1948 in Iowa City, Iowa.  After he graduated with his JD in 1949, Louis and Teeny moved to Clear Lake, where he joined a law firm with Edward R. Boyle.  He remained in Clear Lake for the rest of his life.

Louie was a devoted husband and father.  Family time, especially during the summers, was very important to him.  The family often went on extended vacations around the country, seeing historical and scenic sites.  He was dedicated to watching his children as they participated in sports and music events.

Louie was an active civic leader.  He had a long tenure as city attorney and chairman of the Cerro Gordo County Republican party. He was proud to have had the opportunity to introduce Ronald Reagan at a fund raising dinner in Des Moines.  Along with Mark Arneson, James Connell, and Robert Halford, Louie bought the Surf Ballroom in 1974, saving it from possible ruin.  They owned it until 1994.

Louie was an Iowa Hawkeye fan.  He rarely missed a football game in Iowa City, even near the end of his life.  He loved to take his family and friends to games.  He was almost always spotted sporting Hawkeye clothing or a hat.  He was often seen with his friends at the corner deli drinking coffee and sharing stories covering a wide variety of topics. But especially the Hawkeyes.

Louis is survived by five children, George Richard, of Clear Lake, Louis Eugene and wife, Kimberly, of Shawnee, Kan., Herbert Theodore, of Manassas, Virg., Captain Mark L. and his wife, Theresa, Port Charlotte, Fla. and Helen Kaufmann and husband, Ken, of Sandwich, Mass.; and by seven grandchildren. 

Louis’ wife preceded him in death on April 9, 2009.  

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.