Henry Schoenig

Henry Schoenig passed from this world into the next on July 6, 2011, following several years of declining health. Henry was born to August and Flora (Nelson) Schoenig of Lansford, ND on March 21, 1920. He spent his growing up years on the farm homesteaded by his father, learning the value of disciplined, physical labor in an era before farming became fully mechanized. In reflecting on farm life in the 1930s, his comment was, "I don't know how we made it through those years". Henry attended Mountrose School, a consolidated, country school located several miles from the Schoenig farm. During the winter of 1935-36, he drove Mountrose's school bus, a horse drawn, covered sleigh! His senior year was completed at Lansford High School in 1938. Following high school, Henry worked on the family farm as a young adult. A leaky heart valve prevented him from active service in World War II, but hungry troops needed the results of productive farming, and in this way, he contributed to the war effort. Following the war years, Henry began pursuit of Ella Beth Clark, the woman who would become his lifelong companion on January 14, 1948 in Valley City, ND. Ever desirous of travel, Henry and Ella Beth embarked on a two-month honeymoon road trip to California before establishing their home in Valley City. Henry's work experiences in Valley City included employment at Ella Beth's parent's grocery store, work at Blume's Bakery, driving truck for Land O'Lakes and for Meyer Milk Transport, and building houses and apartments, primarily for real estate developer, Vance Van Hal. It was during his Valley City years that Henry worked to build a new home for his family on a small acreage four miles west of town. This home became the focal point of many good memories for his family during the 1960s. Other family memories came as a result of Henry's love for travel and camping, with the family making several road trips over the years to various national parks, Florida, the Canadian Rockies, and Monterey, Mexico. After years of home building in North Dakota's harsh winters, Henry seized an opportunity to follow his two oldest children to Colorado when new construction work ground to a halt during the winter of 1971. Colorado's Front Range was in the midst of a growth spurt and he quickly secured employment during the construction of Adriel Hills in Fort Collins. In the years to follow he worked as an employee of Onstad Construction, helping to build the Moot House and spending multiple months remodeling and refurbishing historic structures in the area we now call Old Town. At an age when most folks seek options for retirement, Henry began a new career in 1982 doing physical plant maintenance at Ultimate Support Systems, a company started by his son, Darrell, in the garage of the family home on Clover Lane in Fort Collins. Henry continued in this employment until 2004, retiring at the age of 84. Beginning in 1980, Henry and Ella Beth embarked on a number of overseas travel adventures, with four trips to Europe, a tour of Israel, time spent on the island of Taiwan, and mission work in Ecuador. On his 80th birthday, he visited family sites in Schleswig-Holstein, the homeland of German ancestors. Travel nearer to home usually involved time spent camping near Rustic in Poudre Canyon. At the age of 57, Henry climbed his first and only Colorado 14-er, 14,255 foot Longs Peak. In addition to being a devoted family man, Henry was devoted to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was faithful in attending Southwest Bible Chapel in Valley City, ND and served as an elder at Fort Collins Bible Chapel for a number of years. In later years, he attended Faith Evangelical Free Church. He and Ella Beth established an open, welcoming home on Clover Lane, hosting weekly Bible studies for young folks, serving countless meals to college students, and providing room and board for several CSU students. It was during this era that Henry was given the nickname Duck by a neighbor child who had difficulty saying Hank. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Wayne, a sister, Helen Gravseth, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ella Beth, his wife of 63 years, survives Henry, along with his three children, Brenda (Robert) Kohrmann, of Eagle, CO, Darrell (Susan) Schoenig of Bellvue, CO, and Steven (Miriam) Schoenig of Fort Collins, CO. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Bryan (Nicole) Kohrmann, Brad Kohrmann, Bethany (Greg) Van Wyk, Chris Schoenig, Joshua Schoenig, and Hannah Schoenig, and five great-grandchildren, along with nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Henry's love of Jesus Christ is now made full as he enjoys face-to-face fellowship with the One who captured his heart. To our loving father, husband, and devoted family man, we say, "Enjoy your release from the bonds of your earthly habitation! We look forward to joining you around the heavenly throne. Until then, we celebrate the memory of your life and the love you gave us all." Services will be held at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 4825 S. Lemay, on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. Interment and a graveside service will be at Woodbine Cemetery, Valley City, ND at a later date.