Marcus Aurelius Schild

Marcus Aurelius Schild, 94, of Fort Dodge, died Saturday March 14, 2015, at the Simpson Health Center. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 20 at the Celebration Center at Friendship Haven. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at the Union Cemetery in Newton. The visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday prior to the service at the Celebration Center. Arrangements have been entrusted with Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Marcus was born in Quincy, Wash., Jan. 21, 1921, to Reverend Peter and Bertha (Kaetterhenry) Schild. He attended schools in Delmont, S.D., and Baxter and graduated from Baxter High School in 1938. He entered the Army Air Corps in July 1940, and served in the Alaska Theater for 16 months as a radio operator and mechanic. He was in the Pacific Theater for 20 months as a C-47 pilot in the 9th Troop Carrier Squadron. He was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He was retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel in January 1981. He was united in marriage to Elenora H. Bohne on May 30, 1943, at the Zoar Reformed Church in rural Newton. After Elenora’s passing he married Beth Boatsma on Sept. 4, 1996, at his son, John Schild’s home in Fort Dodge. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Newton, and served as an elder, trustee, Sunday School Superintendant and Sunday School teacher and was a member of the Merriwed Sunday School class. He was a member of the Newton Masonic Lodge #59 and past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a 50 year member of both orders. He was also a member of the Countryside Presbyterian Church of Ocala, Fla. He most recently attended church services at Friendship Haven in the Celebration Center since residing in Fort Dodge. He moved to Kenyon Place at Friendship Haven in 2008, from Ocala, Fla., to be nearer to family.

Marcus was the maintenance supervisor for the Newton Schools, private contractor in Newton, lumber salesman for D&P Lumber and UBC Lumber Companies of Newton and Grinnell. He loved making wood plaques with different sayings reflecting God’s love for everyone. He had a sense of humor that was always making people laugh and also think. Woodworking and woodcarving were favorite leisure activities, as well as reading, helping with the church activities and attending family gatherings. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Marcus is survived by his son John (Jennifer) Schild of Badger; nine grandchildren, Jessica Wiliams of Rochester, Minn., Joshua Schild of Eagle Grove, Jonathan Schild of Mason City, Jacob Schild of Fort Dodge, Julie Schild of Peoria, Ariz., Jordan Schild and Jenna Schild both of Emmetsburg, Justin Schild and Josie Schild, both of Badger. He was preceded in death by his wife Elenora Schild; his parents Reverend Peter and Bertha Schild; infant daughter, Mary Schild; granddaughter, Jaclyn Schild; his brothers, Walter, Ted and Al; and his sisters, Mildred, Cordelia and Ann; and his second wife, Beth Schild.