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BORN

1937

DIED

2025

FUNERAL HOME

Feerick Funeral Home - Shorewood

2025 East Capitol Drive

Shorewood, Wisconsin

Gerhard Schoenthal Obituary

Gerhard Schoenthal, 88, of Bland, Virginia, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born on April 5, 1937, in Schott, Germany, to Siegbert and Margarete Wilhelmine Auline Vienna Schoenthal.


Gerhard’s early life was marked by the tumultuous events of World War II and the Holocaust. His father, Siegbert, was imprisoned at Sachsenhausen concentration camp after he was rounded up during Kristallnacht. The family lost many relatives in the Holocaust, including Gerhard’s grandmother Goldina von de Wall Schoenthal and other family members who perished at Auschwitz.


Gerhard emigrated from Germany at age 2 with his parents and siblings, thanks to sponsors in Nebraska. He grew up to embrace his new country with dedication, becoming a citizen and proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960. He later served as the Chairman of the Republican Party in Bland County, VA, volunteering his time in support of his adopted democracy.


On August 20, 1966, Gerhard married the love of his life, Rosemary McCall, in King George, Virginia. Together, they built a beautiful life centered around family and their beloved farm. In 1972, they moved to a 1,200-acre farm in Bland County, Virginia, with their young son Gerhard. Their second son, Marshall, was born in 1973. 


Gerhard was a passionate farmer who worked tirelessly to build and maintain Schoen Valley Farm. He raised a large herd of Angus cattle and cared immensely for his animals. More than one cold winter night found a baby calf sleeping inside the house next to the wood stove. He was both knowledgeable and innovative in caring for his cattle, sometimes resuscitating newborn calves using a long tube and funnel. Until his last day on the farm, he was obsessively dedicated to keeping the wood-burning stove properly loaded with wood—a task neither his sons nor wife could quite do to his satisfaction.


Gerhard was always willing to help out a family member, friend, or neighbor in need. Cousins often spent summers at the farm, working with cattle, painting the house, and enjoying country life under his guidance. Doctor and lawyer friends who were hobby farmers would call with questions or ask for help on weekends and holidays, knowing they could count on his expertise and willingness to lend a hand. Those who worked alongside him on the farm fondly remember his intense focus during cattle work—he could be demanding and use colorful language in the field, but at the end of the day, he was always ready to relax on the front porch of his home. 


A man of simple pleasures, Gerhard could often be found watching the news, checking the weather, or laughing at classic comedies like “Smokey and the Bandit” and the Peter Sellers “Pink Panther” movies. He enjoyed his nightly bourbon and ginger ale, but nothing compared to his fondness for ice cream. It wouldn’t have been odd to see him having a bowl of ice cream before lunch on a hot summer day after a morning in the fields, or on a cold day either, for that matter!


Gerhard never stopped working to support and care for his family. He was a devoted son who helped care for his parents for many years while they lived on a neighboring farm. He loved his sons deeply, though his phone conversations with them were typically brief affairs—after inquiring about the weather and their work or school, he was ready to wrap up the call. His grandchildren affectionately called him "Grumpy" or “Grumpdaddy,” a nickname that perfectly captured his no-nonsense personality tempered with underlying warmth. He took immense pride in his sons’ achievements and found great joy in his role as grandfather.


Gerhard is survived by his sons, Gerhard Siegbert Schoenthal (Rebecca) of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Marshall Wilhelm Schoenthal (Mary “Libby” Elizabeth Schroeder) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the proud grandfather of Rath, Otto, and Philippa Schoenthal of Charlottesville, and Grant and Charlotte Schoenthal of Milwaukee. He is also survived by his sister Dina Butcher of Bismarck, North Dakota. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 59 years, Rosemary McCall Schoenthal, who passed away on January 10, 2025.


His legacy lives on in the preserved farmland, the family he raised, and the example he set of hard work and dedication. Gerhard Schoenthal will be remembered as a practical man who built a life of purpose and lasting impact.


A burial service will be held in the coming months in King George County, Virginia.







Published by Feerick Funeral Home - Shorewood on Aug. 6, 2025.

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Gerald Fuhrman

August 7, 2025

"Gerhard was always willing to help out a family member, friend, or neighbor in need." I was Gerhard's next-door neighbor. One brutal winter the snow was deep and the roads were impassable. In an attempt to plow my driveway I buried my tractor in a snow drift along the edge of the turnpike. Working with the frustration building in a futile attempt to recover, all of a sudden there was Gerhard, bundled up to block the wind, pulling up on his big Ford tractor with a tow chain. He never spoke. He hooked up my tractor, pulled it out of the ditch, waved, and went home. He was my friend. He will be missed.

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