Obituary – John J. Schuckman

John J. Schuckman

CROFTON — John J. Schuckman, 84, Crofton, died June 19, 2011, at his residence.
Visitation with a rosary and scripture service, were June 22 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, S.D., and continued one hour prior to the service at the church in Yankton Thursday.
Services were June 23 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Father Mark Lichter officiating.
Burial was in the St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Columbus, with Military Graveside Rites by the American Legion Hartman Post #84 Honor Guard of Columbus.

John was born July 16, 1927, to John and Elizabeth “Elise” (Boch) Schuckman, Sr. in Humphrey. He attended grade and high school at St. Francis High School, Humphrey, graduating in 1945 and attended Kansas State College. John entered the U.S. Coast Guard in 1945 and served 18 months in the Pacific Theatre of Operation, being Honorably Discharged in 1947 at the rank of RDM 3/c. Returning from the service, he moved to Columbus in 1950 and married Marilyn Bogus, Oct. 14, 1953, in Platte Center. He was employed Feb. 1,1961, by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as a conservation officer and moved to Bloomfield. John moved to Crofton in 1962, and moved near Gavins Point Dam in 1968, where he resided until the time of his death. John was the conservation officer in the Gavins Point Dam area, including Knox and Cedar Counties, until his retirement from the Game and Parks Dec. 31,1989.
He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #3704, American Legion Post #84, both of Columbus; a lifetime member of the Military Order of Cooties, Columbus; and the Knights of Columbus, Yankton, S.D., and Hartington.
John was very proud of his military service to his country and 29 years as a Game Warden defending, promoting and conserving the natural resources of Northeast Nebraska. Many area residents and visitors knew him simply as “Big John.” He was an avid waterfowl hunter throughout his life and enjoyed his fruit trees, gardening, wine making and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, rural Crofton; three sons and spouses, John and Carol Schuckman Jr., Laramie, Wyo.; Jeff and Pattie Schuckman, Norfolk; and Tim and Rhonda Schuckman, Broken Bow; brother, Alphonse Schuckman, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.; and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Helen Schuckman and Rita Perkins.