Fr. LaVerne L. Schueller
September 19, 1940 ~ February 1, 2014
Chaplain Colonel LaVerne L. Schueller, USAF, Retired, succumbed to the eventuality of his sarcoma on Saturday, February 1, 2014. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa September 19, 1940 to Leo N. Schueller and Veronica (Lolwing) Schueller. Visitation and an opportunity to greet the family will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 4949 Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, from 3-7 p.m. with a vigil beginning at 7 p.m. An additional visitation and an opportunity to greet the family will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 2921 Central Avenue, Dubuque, from 3-7 p.m. with a vigil at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Dubuque, on Friday, February 7, 2014, at 11 a.m., with Archbishop Michael Jackels and Bishop William Dendinger presiding. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque, with full military honors. Arrangements are by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Schueller M.D. of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Mary Ann (Paul) Sands of Bartlett, Illinois; sister-in-law, Nancy Schueller, Dubuque; special friend, Anne Duffy, Cedar Rapids; nieces, Meg (George) May, Woodbury, Minnesota, Andrea (Phil) Kuchler, Carol Stream, Illinois, Nicole (Jack) McNeeley, Westlake, Ohio; nephews, Michael (Carol) Schueller, Cedar Rapids; Matthew (Teppie) Schueller, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Timothy (Joan) Schueller, Dubuque; Scott (Petra) Schueller, Munich, Germany; great nieces and nephews, Jacob, Rachel, Rebecca, Luke, Catherine, Anna, and Clare Schueller, Mark, Tony, and Michael May, Natalie, Noah, and Sarah Kuchler, Blaise and Eleanor Noble-Schueller, and Paul and Nathan McNeeley. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, David; his sister-in-law, Mary Ann; and his nephew Mark Schueller. Father Schueller attended Holy Ghost School, Loras Academy, Loras College and Mount Saint Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. While at Mount Saint Bernard Seminary, he was awarded the Master of Arts (theology) degree. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Saint Raphael Cathedral on June 4, 1966. He served at St. Pius X parish, Cedar Rapids and also taught at Regis High School from August 1966 to August 1970. He then served at St. Jude parish, Cedar Rapids, and as head of the English Department at LaSalle High School from August 1970 to August 1974. He was named pastor of Holy Name parish, Bimini, Bahamas in September 1974. He remained in Bimini until September 1975. He then undertook a special assignment in Chicago, Illinois for one year. While awaiting assignment as an Air Force chaplain, he served at St. John parish, Waterloo and St. Nicholas parish Evansdale. He entered the United States Air Force Chaplain Service on December 28, 1976. He served at Andrews AFB, Maryland from December 1976 to June 1978; Keflavik NAS Iceland, June 1978 to June 1979; Sheppard AFB, Texas, July 1979 to July 1982; Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, July 1982 to May 1985; Williams AFB, Arizona, June 1985 to June 1987; Soesterberg Air Base, The Netherlands, July 1987 to July 1989; student Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, August 1989 to July 1990; Holloman AFB, New Mexico, July 1990 to July 1993; HQ Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Illinois, July 1993 to July 1995; Eglin AFB, Florida, July 1995 to July 1999; Command Chaplain, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, July 1999 to January 1, 2003. His military decorations included the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Defense Superior Service medal. Father Schueller retired from the Air Force after 26 years on January 1, 2003, in the rank of Colonel. He was most proud of being a military chaplain when he was in the Pentagon when it was hit by the terrorist controlled aircraft on September 11, 2001. His chaplain group aided the wounded on that horrible day and counseled grieving family members and friends the following day. Following retirement from the Air Force, he served the Catholics at Bob Hope Retirement Village, Shalimar, Florida from 2003-2005. He also served the Sisters of Mercy, Sacred Heart Convent, Cedar Rapids, 2006-2008, and St. Joseph parish, Marion, 2008-2012. When a boy growing up in Dubuque, playing on the streets, the railroad tracks and in the alleys, he never dreamt that God would grant him a life that would unfold to be so intensely interesting and fun. He was constantly grateful to God for the family in which he was raised, the education he received, and the opportunity to serve so many different people in so many different places. Concelebrating Mass at the world's northernmost Cathedral in Reykjavik, Iceland and celebrating Mass behind locked doors in different parts of Saudi Arabia; sitting in the no man's zone at Check Point Charlie between East and West Berlin; doing aileron rolls in a USAF T-37 jet trainer; doing his morning power walk along the Nile River in downtown Cairo, Egypt; celebrating Mass in St. Peter's Basilica; and getting to know animals as friends were merely some of the incredible experiences he was allowed. He deeply loved his family and his friends. He considered it a great privilege to be a volunteer at the Community Health Free Clinic. He enjoyed celebrating Liturgy and preaching homilies. He was also known to appreciate Maker's Mark whisky, good humor and good meals with good friends. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Anne Duffy Endowed Scholarship in care of the Kirkwood Community College Foundation or to the Community Health Free Clinic, Cedar Rapids. The family extends a sincere thank you to the nurses and staff at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy for their compassion and care of LaVerne during his stay.
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So very sad to hear about the loss of Father Vern Schueller. He was a good loyal friend to my parents and our entire family. I remember his first days at St. Jude Catholic Church and remember the many occasions he was at our home for dinner. Great priest. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family. David Pfiffner
I shall miss his humor, kindness and joy….he was such a good friend to my family. I imagine he and Jim are having a drink, smoking a cigar and challenging each other’s politics with good humor and friendship right about now. A true officer and gentleman…Ann Shambo
I met him in 1986 when we were stationed at Williams AFB AZ. We have been friends ever since. Today is my birthday (Feb 3) and he always, always sent me greetings. I was not expecting one this year because of his health, but I wasn’t expecting this either. Vern has been in my prayers ever since he told me of the “monster” inside him. I was hoping for a miracle, but I guess it wasn’t in God’s plan. . My sister Kathleen and I are scheduled to make a trip to Italy in February and we were going to stop in and visit Vern on our return trip ( around the second week in March 2014). I respected him so much as a person and as a priest. I will miss him so very much. I am glad he was with family when he passed away. He told me he always wanted to be with family when his day came.
Vern was a very special person and will be greatly missed. Our prayers go out to his family.
Vern and I were young priests together in 1976 at Andrews AFB (he the Catholic, me the Episcopalian). We shared friendship, service, and faith. May The Lord receive him into the arms of his mercy.
It was truly a privilege to have known Fr. Schueller. He was the finest AF Chaplain I ever met. What a great priest and friend. We will miss him greatly. Our kindest regards to his family.
I had the honor of getting to know Vern through Anne. What an easy going, kind gentleman he was. I am honored to have been able to have some laughs and share some social time with he and Anne and the group from Kirkwood. My sympathies to Anne and his whole family. And thank you, Vern, for your service to our country.
We are sorry to hear of the passing of Father Schueller. We will always remember him with love for his kindness to all. He will be in our prayers.
I would like to offer my condolences to the family of LaVerne Schueller. I graduated with LaVerne from Loras Academy with the class of 1958. While I have not seen LaVerne in the last 56 years, I read his obituary with a keen interest. What an interesting life experience he has had. I remember him as a no-nonsense, smart, and sharp kind of a guy. May he rest in peace and God bless.
Father Vern was a good friend, spiritual leader, and an inspiration with his humor, patience and love for all of us who came to know and love him in return. We will miss you and miss the happiness you provided to all of us in your emails and messages through your journey to God.
The Steepleton Family of Cedar Rapids Iowa would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Schueller family. Fr. Schueller was a dear friend of our family. When we lost my sister, Sherri Ann to leukemia in 1969 at age 10, Fr. Schueller said her homily and consoled us during our darkest hours. He remained a dear family friend and said a private mass at my home for my entire family to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary. He was so giving of himself. To hear him tell us of his day at the Pentagon when the plane hit was something I will never forget. He was the most selfless person I know who truly lived life the way God intended. What an example he was to us all. God Bless him and his family during this time of great loss and sadness.
To the family of Father Schueller: When I read of Father’s passing I was sad, He was one of my favorite teachers at LaSalle High School. His wit and sense of humor set him apart from typical teachers and he engaged his students as individuals not just faces in a classroom.
When I read of his life after LaSalle i was relieved of some of the sadness for a good man gone too soon> It would seem Father accomplished and experienced a lot more in the 40+ years since LaSalle than I ever could have imagined. Good for him.
Please accept my condolances and know that the LaSalle High School class of 1972 remembers Father Shueller with affection.
Father Vern,
He was a wonderful man. He came to our family when we were in great need. He helped my wife, Colleen, and I when our little girl, Sherri Ann, was dying. I don’t know what we would have done without him. He was sent to us from God. Jerry Steepleton
Vern & I became friends at Sheppard AFB, Texas. I was the secretary to the 11 Chaplains there. Several of us used to enjoy a gabfest and coffee before we started work for the day. Also since “being fit” was such a concern for the military, several of us would walk on our lunch hour. Even though I never saw him after leaving Sheppard, Vern & I have maintained our friendship throughout the years. He has been such a dear friend. I know that he is a special angel looking down on us. I admire Vern’s strength in the face of such adversity. He handled it with such dignity and faith. He will remain in my heart always.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I was a student of Father’s at LaSalle. I enjoyed his class very much!
I was a member of LaSalle’s class of 1975, and we raised the funds to bring Father Schueller back to Iowa to speak at our graduation ceremony, such was our regard for our former teacher. It is not an exaggeration to say that Father was one of the most influential teachers in my life. In addition to literature, he taught us much about thinking for ourselves and possibly re-thinking that which we thought we already knew.
Please accept my most heartfelt condolences on your loss, but know that he lives on in so many memories.
I had Fr. Schueller at LaSalle my freshman and sophomore years. A very loving and caring teacher. The military was honored to have such a great Chaplin .
I went to LaSalle 1970-1974, the 4 years Fr. Schueller taught there. He made a lasting impression on me as a teacher and priest. In English class he assigned books and led discussions that challenged our thinking. What a gift it was to know him and to hear his sermons at St. Jude’s those 4 years. I will never forget him. I’m glad he had the opportunity to live the life he had after leaving LaSalle. My condolences to his family and close friends. We all will surely miss him.
Father Schueller baptized both of our sons when we were stationed at Soesterberg AB, The Netherlands. Once when my husband was filling in as altar server, they were using incense. We had to share the chapel on base with the Protestants. As Father Schueller heaped on the incense and it started to smoke he told my husband with a chuckle ‘the Protestants hate this’ Still makes us smile. Prayers to the family.
I was in grade school at St Pius when Father Schueller was there. I always thought the world of him and Father McQuire. Heaven has gained a great soul. The obituary was perfect. Loved hearing all the things he did in his life. His love of people and animals. RIP Father Schueller.
We are members of St. Joe’s and are blessed to have had Fr. Schueller celebrate mass for us. During the time of our youngest child’s confirmation years, we spent much time in confirmation small group discussing Fr.Schuller’s homilies. He really resonated with the teen-agers in our group and they lovingly called him Fr. Air Force.
My condolences to the family. I remember Fr. Schueller for his compassion and kindness he showed my family at Eglin AFB.
Stern and gentle. He stood up to a local bishop insisting on a Mass be provide to a military widow’s village. He carried life svers to daily Mass and gave to those too young to receive communion. He served God’s people well. May he rest in peace. Jerry & Mary Widman
We were both privileged to have had Father Schueller at LaSalle HS all four years he taught there. He certainly spread the word of Christ in his short time on earth. His life was truly blessed. May he rest now in peace. Our sympathy and prayers go out to his entire family at this time.
We will miss Fr Schueller deeply. He faced his illness with faith and courage found rarely in most people. He blessed our lives every time we saw him. Thank you for introducing us to him Tom.
Fr. Vern was a blessing. I feel blessed to have known him. I, too, loved his homilies, his kindness to all, his sense of humor, his appetite for life. He was truly Jesus to all he met. I appreciated his voicing his righteous indignation when it was warranted. He is greatly missed. He was taken from us far too soon. He fought the good fight with such courage, such faith. May he rest in peace in the arms of Our Father.
Fr. Schueller was a blessing to all who knew him. My family loved him dearly for who he was and for all he did for us during the great loss of my sister Sherri. He was never afraid to be himself. I was the youngest in my family and didn’t know him very well, but he always dropped in when he was in town and when he was in our kitchen he had my parents smiling and laughing the whole time. I learned that a priest can be your lifetime friend from Fr. Schueller. He was there for my family my whole life. He gave the homily at my sister’s funeral, said a private mass at my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary and he gave the last rights to my mother in the hospital. He was truly a Saint on earth. God Bless his whole family during this sad time. We all know he is in the loving arms of Jesus now.
Vern and I served as chaplains in the Air Force and our paths crossed many times. We share great memories from those days. I shall forever remember our 9/11/01 experience when terrorist attacked the Pentagon. We shared faith, friendship and ministry during those traumatic days. Dian and I send our heartfelt condolences to his family and especially to our friend Anne. The Lord be with you.
Schueller Family:
I am sorry to learn about Fr. Vern’s death. We used to serve Mass togather at Holy Ghost.
My sympathy to all family member. Tom Roseliep
Dear Father Vern, you were one of the few persons that made me look forward to going to school! I love our time together! You are one awesome dude!
Father Schueller will never be forgotten; He gave me my First Communion as a child, and he officiated our wedding many years later. He will always hold a special place in my heart.
Fr. Schueller brought plenty of joy to all of the church family at the Enlisted Village. We learned much about the goodness of God under his care. This gentle giant has helped mend many broken hearts. Rest in the peace of Jesus, friend
Fr. LaVerene Schueller…a wonderful priest, outstanding Air Force officer and a very good man. The good Padre oversaw our “flock” at Soesterberg Air Base in the Netherlands from 1987-89. While there, he gave our daughter her First Communion and then came back to marry her many years later. He even heard my one and only confession without the use of the veiled black screen…and you only do that with someone you love and trust. I will miss our “E-mail exchanges” from afar where he continued to challenge me in doing what he knew Christ expected from me.
For all of us who have been moved by Father Vern’s homilies, inspired by a philosophical discussion with him or have been entertained by his fascinating stories as well as for all the dogs, present and beyond, who benefitted from those many walks with him, we celebrate the life of a true renaissance man.
Dear friends and family of Fr Schueller: I am sorry for your loss, sorry for our loss, sorry for the world’s loss. The world is a little less happy today, a little less in many ways, but heaven has gained another angel. Fr Schueller was an inspiration, to everyone he touched, to all the flocks he shepherded. I met him in Holland–he inspired all who met him, and will remain a friend and fan for evermore. Every Notre Dame victory I will think of Father Schueller, and every gathering of the 32nd TFS Wolfhounds, he will be toasted, and remembered. In his memory I sent a donation to the Clinic, have had several masses said for him, and will pray for his family for solace and happiness knowing he is in the best of places. Peace- John “Jazz” Jannazo, 32nd TFS 1987-1990, Eglin AFB, FL 1994-2010.
My Condolences to the Schueller Family. I meant Vern a few years ago when I took over the Snow Plowing for the HOA where he Lived. Vern was an amazing Man and Very well liked and always to time to say Hello when I was on the job. Even tho I think he hated snow he always put on a smile when he seen me coming just knowing he didnt have to shovel that driveway. My Thought’s and Prayers go out to the Schueller Family
John’s Snow
I knew Fr. Schueller in the 70’s when he was at St. Judes.
He worked construction with my
husband for part of the summer
We loved him, his sense of humor was the best.
Rest in peace!
Joan Schumacher
I first met Fr Schueller while serving with him at Rhein-Main AB, Germany in 1983. He was not only my Priest but also became a close friend. Fr Verne would often minister to his flock and hear confessions at a corner table in the Officers Club on a Friday evening. He brought his ministry to where we were. I owe him so much – it was he who set me up on a blind date with my future wife – because of him I have a most beautiful family. Fr Verne truly was a man of deep faith and a dear friend who greatly impacted my life. I will miss him deeply. God bless him and his family.
it is with a heavy heart that we pray for a peaceful eternal rest for our dear friend, Fr Schueller…he was a special family friend to us at Offutt AFB and we will miss him very much..we are so thankful for the years that he shared with our family…
dear father schuler, I was your altar boy.you sure messed me up .everybody hides your actions. time for the truth to come out
! the catholics are hiding the great criminal acts of abuse to children. I went to st pics and many many times I saw teachers throw children to the floor., or being chocked or thwireless head slammed against the wall. st pics left me with terrible bad memories.NO Help for us altar boys..
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