The heavenly choir of angels has welcomed its new director.
Gurmen Schimke, age 78 of Hebron, ND & Centerville, IA, passed away Friday, January 8, 2010 at the Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit in Centerville, IA.
A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, January 16 at First Lutheran Church, 800 N. 7th St., in Bismarck, ND.
Gurmen Soloman Schimke was born June 27, 1931 in Bowdon, ND to Soloman and Leah (Hartman) Schimke.
He grew up and was educated in Bowdon , ND. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served in Germany from 1951-1953.
Ila Faye (Fornshell) married Gurmen, her high school sweetheart, in 1956.
Gurmen received his teaching degree from Valley City State College. Through his more than fifty years of teaching music and geography he touched hundreds of lives. He taught in Kathryn, Wolford, Hebron, Lemmon, SD and Shiloh Christian School in Bismarck, ND, retiring in 2007. He attended more junior high and high school basketball and football games and directed more concerts than anyone can count.
Gurmen worked many summers for the National Park Service and the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation in Medora, ND.
Gurmen had a deep faith and belief in God. He was very active in the church and directed several cantatas and a church choir. He also maintained a strong, lifelong pride in service and country. He was active as a Boy Scout Leader, was active in the American Legion, and the Lions. He enjoyed gardening, nature, working in his shop (insisting that no one rearrange his tools), photography, genealogy, fishing, and of course, music.
Gurmen had the great fortune to find love and marry a second time. Gurmen and Caroline DeMars married in 2006. Enjoying the best of both worlds, they lived their summers in Hebron, ND and their winters in Centerville, IA.
Gurmen was husband to Ila Faye and Caroline, father to Erika Lorenz-Perry, grandfather to Grayson and Grant Lorenz, step-father to Marie Ashbaugh , Mary (Wayne) Devore, and Joseph (Christine) DeMars , step-grandfather to Noelle, Brett, Christian, Dylan, Austin, and Lucas, brother to Jacqueline Degroot and uncle to Don (Raquel) Degroot. He is survived by many friends and former students.
He was preceded in death by his parents (Soloman and Leah), and wife (Ila Faye).