Dick & Bev Schuman:
“Sharing Our Blessings”
Dick and Bev Schuman are all about community. They are devoted to their family, and actively involved in their church, Wellington Place Assisted Living, and Winneshiek Medical Center. For 25 years, Dick and partner Vern Billiet owned and operated Decorah Tire Services, a neighborhood business that is now run by their sons Bruce and Gary. “No man is an island,” says Dick.
The Schumans have experienced first-hand the importance of reaching out to others. When their daughter, Becky, was diagnosed with a developmental disability in the 1960s, they needed a lot of support to help her succeed. “It’s something you learned that you can’t do alone,” says Bev.
The Schumans found that support in several communities while Becky was growing up. They found it again in Decorah, where Becky began living at the long-term care center in 1974. Soon after, she enrolled in the job training program at Spectrum Industries (now The Spectrum Network).
And when Becky began earning a paycheck, she turned around and gave back. “Those paychecks meant so much to her,” says Bev, because for the first time, Becky had her own money to spend. “The first dollar of each paycheck went to the church,” Bev adds, “and she used her other money to buy gifts for her nieces and nephews.”
Becky’s parents warmly describe her welcoming, generous nature. And that generous spirit must have been reinforced by their example. Over the years, Dick and Bev have given their time and money to many in the community.
They have been steady supporters of The Spectrum Network, and in 2004 they shared the proceeds from a stock transaction. This money was reinvested in the organization’s programs, in turn making a real difference in people’s lives. “They’ve [Spectrum] been able to do things with that money,” says Dick.
Becky passed away on November 1, 2006. The Schumans continue to honor her memory with stories, love, and giving—so much that one almost feels Becky’s spirit working through them as they continue to reach out to others.
“If we’ve been blessed, then we’ve tried to share our blessings,” says Bev.
