The family of Ferdinand "Ferd" Schoenwald, 87, announces his passing, and invites all who knew him to remember him here.
Below, the family shares some of what made his life meaningful.
Born in 1929, Ferdinand began a life that would touch many along the way.
Ferdinand spent his working life as ['the rural telephone company in Dolton township'] and held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
Faith gave Ferdinand a place to stand, and a place to return to.
Ferdinand "Ferd" Schoenwald Ferdinand Schoenwald, 87 of Marion died Friday, April 14, 2017 at the Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion. Funeral services will be at 10:30am Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Marion. Visitation will be from 3-4pm Tuesday at the Tieszen Home Chapel. Visitation with family present will be from 5-7pm Tuesday at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Chapel, Marion with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm Tuesday evening. Ferdinand "Ferd" Schoenwald was born on May 11, 1929 on a farm northwest of Dolton, SD to Ferdinand and Marie (Engbrecht) Schoenwald. He attended Dick District #70 country school in Turner County. On August 31, 1952 he was united in marriage to RoseMary Mohr at Marion, SD. They rented three different farms in Dolton Township before buying the Bill Becker farm in April of 1962 and moved there that fall. They lived there until they retired and moved into Marion in 2001. Over the years Ferd also worked construction doing carpentry work. In 1962 he worked for the rural telephone company in Dolton township, a job he acquired from Bill Becker. He loved visiting with the local farmers. He was an active member of the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Marion and served on various positions on the church council for many years. He was baptized on April 9, 1957 and confirmed on April 12, 1957, at Bethesda Lutheran Church. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife RoseMary; 4 children, Allen (Jeanette) Schoenwald, Laurie (Scot) Petersen, Jody (Gary) Luke, and Dean (Sheryl) Schoenwald, all of Marion; 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; a sister Rose Loewen, Freeman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Keith, and 9 brothers and sisters, Tina, Jake, Abe, Bill, Dave, John, Henry, Reuben, and Mary.
