Engelbert Thomas Schuhmann

Engelbert Thomas Schuhmann was born December 17th, 1966, in Fridritt, Germany on the Birkenhof to Edgar and Ida Schuhmann. The youngest of 7 siblings, Engelbert was loved beyond measure by his 6 older brothers and sisters. (He didn't beat around the bush- he always gave his honest opinion about things and never talked badly about anyone).

It was in Germany with his family that he began to develop his love of music. Most Sundays the family would play music in church and at whatever community events that arose. They usually practiced once a week in town, twice a week at home and played in competitions, for events, or birthdays. All of the children had to learn 2-3 instruments, and Engel learned trumpet, French horn, and drums, and later taught himself piano and guitar.

In 1981 the Schuhmann family made a big change and sold their farm in Germany and moved onto a farm in the small Manitoba town of Whitemouth. Here Engel attended high school and made a bunch of new friends whom he enjoyed spending time on the farm with, whether it be playing pool, swimming in the river, hanging out at the party shack or just driving around. He had need for speed and loved driving fast cars, trikes, motorcycles and snowmobiles. Although it was only for a few short years, it would seem this little town would forever hold a special place in his heart and it was where he returned to later in life. During his high school years he worked for Karl and Renate at the Maple Inn on Hwy 1 and then they sent him to Hope, BC to start a new motel which he helped to renovate and open. They became great friends and even helped Engel when he took on his own similar endeavour later in life.

When Engel was in his early twenties he returned to Germany to work for his sister Maria who was starting up a recycling business. He helped to get the office up and running and helped to build up the family business that continues to grow and thrive to this day as Schmitt Recycling und Entsorgung. While living in Fulda and working for his sister Engel also pursued his musical ambitions. He played the drums, guitar, keyboard, and vocals in the heavy metal band Vex, of which he was a founding member with band mates Andy, Chris and Wutz. They had quite a following and performed around Germany. During this time, he also renovated Maria's house and he helped to take care of his nieces and nephew and also got in some travelling with his brothers. Hermann, Engel and Siggi went to Austria and Sweden on a trip.

Not too long after, in the summer of 1999, he met the love of his life Robert Britton Ritchie online. They got to know each other by writing daily emails back and forth. He even wrote and produced a special song for Britton. That same year Engel decided to go to Texas for Christmas to meet Britton in person. They decided right then and there that they were going to be together. In the spring of the following year Britton went to Germany and they travelled around southern Bavaria together and Engel made the final move to Texas in May.

Engelbert was very kind, handy and smart. He built Britton a terrific greenhouse and while he was away at a conference, Engelbert collected palm tree seeds, took them home and figured out how to germinate the seeds. Next thing you knew, all of their friends and relatives had baby palms growing in their yards.

They were married on October 28, 2005, at Cooks Falls on the Whitemouth River.

Then life shifted again and Engel along with Britton made the decision to move back to Canada permanently- only 30 minutes from where Engel had gone to high school. Engel moved back in 2006 and started a new adventure and bought a restaurant at Seddons Corner that they named Lazy Tuesdays. Britton joined him at the end of 2006 and they worked with family and friends to renovate the old restaurant into something shiny and new. Engel was very creative and handy and used his vast skill set to update the restaurant and kitchen and install new lighting and even a stained glass window that came up with them from Texas. They served lunch and dinner with Britton as the host and server and Engel in his quieter place behind the scenes in the kitchen and in the office. Running a restaurant proved to be a labour of love and was very challenging at times. After suffering a health scare at work, Engel needed to take a bit of a step back and plans were made to sell the restaurant. They owned and operated the business for 15 years until they shut the doors in 2021 and made the move back to Whitemouth, right next door to the farm where Engel had spent his high school years.

Once they moved back to Whitemouth, Engel found a new job working at the Whitemouth Personal Care Home as a maintenance person and then also in the housekeeping/laundry department. He finally found the perfect fit. He loved his new job and working with the elderly brought him a sense of joy that we hadn't seen before. He was up early and in bed early- very different from his night owl ways! He loved going in to work and would often stay late to visit with the residents. The house Engel and Britton bought sits right on the river where Engel used to swim with his friends- it truly was their little piece of paradise. On October 28, 2024 they sold their restaurant and were looking forward to living the best parts of their lives together at their beautiful home.

Unfortunately, it was only a month and a half later that they got the devastating news that Engel had stage 4 lung cancer. Ready to fight they headed off to appointments to figure out where it had spread and how to combat it. Sadly, it was much more aggressive than we ever expected and it took our husband, brother, brother in law, uncle, great uncle, friend and hero 4 short weeks later. We are so incredibly shocked and saddened but also thankful for all the friends, family, first responders, and medical personnel at the Beausejour Hospital who helped during Engel's transition.

Engelbert is survived by his husband Britton Schuhmann, parents-in- law Linda Shaw and Marlen Dale Ritchie. Siblings, Hermann, Maria (Wolfgang), Kilian (Edith), Wendelin (Astrid), Siegfried (Adelle), Elisabeth (Douglas). Brothers-in-law Mike (Kim), and Christopher (Kristin). His nieces and nephews Nicole (Marc), Nadine, Daniela, Michael (Nathalie), Victoria, Allison, Haven (Jacob), Lacy, and Donovan. And his great nieces and nephews Frieda, Emma & Mara, Phillip & Marie, Canaan & Cade.

He was predeceased by his parents Edgar and Ida Schuhmann and stepfather-in-law Mike Shaw. Sisters-in-law Sigrun and Christine Schuhmann.

He will forever be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com