Longtime Hampshire resident, volunteer, 'basso extraordinaire'

When Richard Schoenberger and his wife, Catherine, moved to the village of Hampshire in 1947, it was a town of 700 people, most of them farmers.

No farmers they, the couple's saving grace was moving next door to the First United Methodist Church, where Mr. Schoenberger found his voice.

One of the first groups he joined was the church choir, giving full voice to his deep, bass that anchored the choir for the next 60 years. When he finally retired, they made him a T-shirt that read: "Basso Extraordinaire."

Now, choir members are preparing to sing at Mr. Schoenberger's funeral. The 60-year resident of Hampshire passed away on Sunday, at age 89.

"He had a wonderful voice and was always on pitch," said Sally Lynn, choir director. "Unless he was out of town, he came every single Sunday. He was the foundation of our choir."

A job transfer with Borden Co. brought the Schoenbergers to Hampshire, where the dairy company had a plant. Mr. Schoenberger worked as office manager, beginning in New York, where he and his wife grew up, before moving to Waterloo, Iowa, and finally Hampshire.

"I was so homesick at first, I was physically sick," Catherine Schoenberger says. "But then I found that the people were so friendly. They pitched in and helped you with whatever you needed."

Joining the church and its groups turned out to be a springboard for Mr. Schoenberger. Within five years of moving to the village, he became village clerk, serving from 1952 to 1960. He later was the treasurer of the Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library board for 11 years.

In his retirement, Mr. Schoenberger was vice president of the Hampshire-Burlington Senior Citizens Club, which organized potluck dinners and hosted speakers for its members. They also arranged for seniors to attend the hot lunches at the Hampshire Middle School, an intergenerational program that benefited both groups.

Mr. Schoenberger's penchant for singing turned up even at the club meetings, members said.

"Whenever we acknowledged a birthday or anniversary, Dick always led us in song," says Meta Meyer of Hampshire, club president.

Besides his wife, Mr. Schoenberger is survived by his daughter, Linda Schuchard of Hampshire; his son Richard Schoenberger of LaFarge, Wis.; a granddaughter and great granddaughter.

A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, at First United Methodist Church, 207 Grove Ave. in Hampshire, when choir members will sing some of Mr. Schoenberger's favorite hymns, including "Onward Christian Soldiers," and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."