Robert Schuelke

Services for Robert Schuelke, 84, of Groton will be 10:30 am, Friday, February 15th at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton. Rev. Craig Grams will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in Groton Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. www.paetznick-garness.com

Visitation will be held at the chapel from 4-8pm on Thursday with a prayer service at 7:00pm.

Rob passed away February 10, 2008 at Golden Living Center, Groton.

Robert Eugene Schuelke was born to Arthur Julius and Mathilda Ida (Erdmann) Schuelke on March 11, 1923 in Putney Township. He completed rural elementary school and graduated from Groton High School in 1940. Rob attended South Dakota State College with military training from 1940-1943. He enlisted in the Army on April 12, 1943 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant Infantry on April 18, 1944. Rob was then assigned to the 103rd Infantry Division with combat service in Europe. During his years of service, he advanced to the rank of Captain, and had been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star and three European Battle Stars. Following his discharge from the service on January 18, 1947, Rob returned to South Dakota State College and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in June of 1947.

On October 3, 1947, he married Carol Jean Findley in Huron. They made their home on their farm in Putney Township. Rob farmed with his oldest brother, Ora, until his death in 1971. He continued farming alone until 1991, when he was joined by his nephew Bill Schuelke.

Robert and Carol had two sons and three daughters. His older son, James, was killed in an auto accident on September 10, 1965 and his younger son, Edward and his wife, Carol were killed in an auto accident December 27, 1967. Robert married Neola L. Rauscher Rudnick on January 10, 1969 in Aberdeen. Neola was a widow and the mother of three daughters, Lori, Janine and Pam Rudnick. The family lived on Robert's farm in Putney Township.

Robert was a lifelong active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton and the Groton American Legion. He served as an original Board member of the BDM Rural Water System, a board member of the South Brown Conservation District and Past President of the 4 Brown County Farm Bureau. Rob had also been active as Treasurer of Putney Township since 1971, and as a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League, serving as South Dakota District President from 1960-1965. In 1980, he ran for the State House of Representatives and was proud to be a strong supporter of the Granary Rural Cultural Center, Groton.

Robert is survived by his daughters; Roxanne (Steve) Jensen of Groton, Elaine (Jim) Rider of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Caroline (Dwayne) Furman of Britton, three step-daughters; Lori (Steven) Giedt of Groton, Janine (Morris) Rudnick-Aldridge of El Paso, Texas, Pam (Wendell) Bouwman of Sioux Falls, ten grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his sister, Ardis Danielson of Fargo, North Dakota and sister-in-law, Betty Schuelke of Huron.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his two wives, two sons, three brothers and one sister in infancy.

Casketbearers will be Kenneth Price, Bryan Danielson, Bill Schuelke, Lee Thompson, Rex Sippel, and Mick Sippel.