Paul “Sarge” Sebastian Schechinger, age 85, of Carroll, IA, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2020 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll with Fr. Kevin Richter as Celebrant. Music for the Mass will be by Jane Heithoff and Kathleen Macke. Lector for the Mass will be Madison Beecham. Casket bearers Mike Lundby, Dan Naberhaus, Gary Halbur, Bob Haukap, Denny Halter, and Calvin Smith. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 4:00 P.M. on Thursday where there will be a Rosary at 5:00 P.M. led by the Carroll Knights of Columbus and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 P.M.
There will be no visitation at the church prior to the Mass on Friday. Those in attendance at Sarge’s services are asked to abide by Covid – 19 social distancing guidelines and face coverings are recommended at the funeral home and required at the church.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com0000
Paul was born on May 27, 1935 in Carroll, IA, and was the son of Henry and Adelaide (Kasperbauer) Schechinger. Paul grew up in Carroll and graduated from Carroll High School in 1954. Following high school, Paul farmed with his brother until he enlisted in the United States Army at age 20. He served three years and the majority of his tour of duty was served in Japan. Paul’s role in the Army was Telegrapher. His job was to send and receive Morse code in order to communicate by land lines or radio. Following his honorable discharge, Paul returned to Carroll and went to work for his father as a plumber with Scheck’s Plumbing and Heating. He bought the business from his father in 1960. He married to Mary Jo Hunting on November 5, 1960 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll. The Schechinger’s started Godfathers Pizza in Carroll in 1977 with three other partners and purchased the business outright in 1980. They owned and operated the restaurant for almost 40 years. Paul was a member of Holy Spirit Parish and the Carroll Knights of Columbus. Paul enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing and hunting. He also enjoyed watching sports like baseball and college football and basketball.
Paul is survived his wife of nearly 60 years, Mary Jo of Carroll; his six children: Beth Beecham (Dave) of Omaha, NE, Paul J. “P.J.” Schechinger of Carroll, Patricia Davis (Ted) of Fayetteville, AR, Thomas Schechinger (Beth) of Westside, Kristin Camper (Eric) of Urbandale, and Sarah Schmitz of Urbandale; five grandchildren: Torrie, Ashlan, Gabe, Madison, Jacob, and Cameryn; a brother-in-law George Drummond (Susan) of Montana; and several nieces and nephews.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Adelaide Schechinger; his father-in-law LeRoy Hunting, his mother-in-law Helen Drummond (George); five sisters: Hildegard Pendergras (Al), Helen Heiman (Jack), Betty Hoehl, JoAnn Reiman, and Marian Neurenberg; three brothers: Leonard Schechinger (Phyllis), William Schechinger at age 7, and Stanley in infancy.