New endowment to benefit St. John Neumann Parish in Yuma

By Elizabeth Bollinger, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation  
 
The Catholic Foundation is blessed to announce a new memorial endowment following the death of longtime parishioners in Yuma. 
 
“My brother Jim and I wanted to create something that would honor our parents and their involvement at St. John Neumann Parish. The parish was a huge part of their life for over 20 years. They loved serving and being involved in the parish with their many close friends they made during their time in Yuma. We both wanted to honor our parents with a legacy that will help the youth of the parish in perpetuity,” said John Schiemer their oldest son.  

Johnie William Schiemer went to eternal rest on February 26, 2024; it was his deceased wife Joan’s birthday. He was born on July 18, 1937, in Puyallup, WA, and passed away at his assisted living home in Yuma, AZ. Johnie was a kindhearted and gentle soul; he always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. 
 
Joan Elaine Schiemer went to eternal rest on May 1, 2023, after a long and courageous nine-year battle with cancer. She was born on February 26, 1939, in Tacoma, WA, and passed away at their home in Yuma. Joan was an extremely hard worker and loved volunteering at the Parish and being involved in Parish activities. 
 
Johnie graduated from Bethel High School in Graham, WA, in 1956. After high school, Johnie joined the Navy and served for two years until he was honorably discharged. After serving in the Navy, he received a certificate of completion as an airframe and engine mechanic for piston airplanes. Johnie would have had to move to San Francisco to work as an A&E mechanic. However, he did not want to leave the Puget Sound area, so he changed careers and began a long vocation in industrial construction as a boilermaker. His career as a boilermaker spanned almost 40 years and allowed him to travel the Western U.S., including Alaska, building power plants, and working on other industrial construction projects. He retired as a boilermaker on his 62nd birthday. 
 
Joan graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, WA, in 1957. After high school, she continued her education and was trained as an x-ray technician by the sisters at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma, WA. After her training, she began an internship at Madigan Army Hospital at Fort Lewis, WA. She finished her career working more than 25 years for orthopedic surgeons in Lakewood, WA.  
 
Johnie met Joan his wife of 62 years on a blind date arranged by Joan’s close friends. They were married on June 25th, 1960. After living and raising their family in the Tacoma area, they retired and moved to Yuma, AZ, as winter residents. They would spend their summers traveling and visiting their family, grandchildren and their many friends. They also enjoyed many years of golfing and touring the country in their travel trailer.  
 
They were active parishioners at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Yuma. Johnie loved staying busy being involved in the church community. He enjoyed volunteering for bingo and being active in the Knights of Columbus. He also made it his personal mission to collect every used aluminum pull-tab in the world. These pull-tabs were then delivered to the Ronald McDonald house in Tucson as a fundraiser. To date, the KofC Council from St. John Neumann parish has turned in over 3 million aluminum pull-tabs. A few years ago, Johnie was recognized in the Columbia Magazine for his and the parish’s efforts in collecting aluminum pull-tabs. 
 
Joan stayed just as busy at the parish and was involved in St. Ann’s Guild and was a Eucharistic Minister. She also volunteered in the kitchen for bingo lunches and other Parish activities. She especially enjoyed creating and arranging baskets that were auctioned off at many of the parish fundraisers.  
 
One of Johnie’s favorite activities was working the Donut Trailer on Sunday mornings handing out donuts and coffee after Mass: an affinity he no doubt learned from his mother who also loved to distribute her famous sugar donuts after Mass at St. Cosmas and Damian Catholic Church in Orting, WA. This is the church where Johnie received his sacraments. A portion of the donations received at the St. John Neumann Donut Trailer are used to help offset costs for parish youth wishing to attend diocesan camps and retreats. 
To honor the legacy of Johnie and Joan, the Schiemer Family has graciously established the Johnie and Joan Schiemer Memorial Endowment at the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson. Each year, a percentage of this Memorial Endowment will be used for youth activities at St. John Neumann Parish in Yuma.  
 
If your family would like to consider establishing an endowment at the Catholic Foundation or leaving a portion of your estate to any Catholic entity in the Diocese, please contact Elizabeth Bollinger at (520) 955-2109 or [email protected].