Sun Nov 08 2009
By JACK PALMER
The Lutheran Home in Napoleon is a special place, but special places are nothing without special people.
People like Paul and Elvera Schuette.
"They are an incredible couple, you won't run across anyone more dedicated," said Tammy Miller, director of admissions. "When they made a commitment, they took it very seriously."
The Schuettes, 93 and 90, have volunteered at the Lutheran Home since its inception 24 years ago.
"Actually I started before this place opened," said Paul, a retired post office worker. "I scrubbed and waxed the floors to get the rooms ready for occupancy."
Elvera has played the organ at three morning worship services (two at the nursing home and the other at the adjacent Alpine Village independent living center) every Sunday, almost without fail. Paul lends a hand by transporting residents to the chapel and serving as greeter.
"All these years they vacationed little and scheduled family events around their decision to volunteer here," said Miller. "The beauty of the services is that they allow people to worship together with their family members. Paul and Elvera see that, and that's why being here every Sunday is such a high priority for them."
Two weeks ago, Elvera announced her retirement as volunteer organist.
"I had to retire because of a sinus infection," she explained. "You can't operate an organ that way."
The couple moved to Alpine Village five years ago, and Paul has resided at the nursing home for the past year following a severe heart attack. He will celebrate his 94th birthday on Jan. 24.
"They have been married for 61 years and they are still so respectful of each other," said Miller. "That's just how they are."
Paul and Elvera first laid eyes on each other in Napoleon at the "old bank corner," where young people got together on Saturday night.
"My cousin was there and he knew Paul, so he introduced us," said Elvera. "We courted five years before we were married."
Her husband has a slightly different recollection of that first meeting.
"I drove down there (to downtown Napoleon) and she just got into my car."
Paul had quit school after the eighth grade to help his ailing father on their farm, while Elvera was a housecleaner.
"I graduated from the Westhope School in 1936," she said. "Nobody I knew went to college back then. You had to work other places or at home. I cleaned old ladies' homes, people as old as I am now."
She began playing organ at Peace Lutheran Church in Deshler at age 16 and continued until her marriage.
"Paul came from the Napoleon area, so that's where we lived," she said. "When I got married I moved across the river and stayed there."
The couple raised over 30 head of cattle on their farm at County Roads 17 and M1 for 40 years. He also worked at the Napoleon post office for 33 years. Elvera sewed alterations for the Augustine and Hoeffel clothing store, enjoyed baking and also helped with the farm duties.
They became active members at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Glenwood Avenue, where they met Pastor Ernest Laabs.
"Pastor Laabs, he was the instigator (of their volunteering)," she recalled. "The Lutheran Home was just being built and he said they needed someone to help with the services. Mrs. Laab played the piano, so I started out as her substitute. Paul scrubbed floors and once the services began he was the greeter."
When the Laabs left town, Elvera became the regular organist.
"We could see the need to help out," she said. "Besides music, people in wheelchairs needed to be transported (to the chapel). Paul knew a lot of people from working at the post office.
"He always helped elderly people on his mail route. Now he's in the same position and people are helping him. That's the way it works, people helping people. I wouldn't know how else to be."
"Growing up our family always helped the neighbors and they helped us," he added. "Everyone had a pretty big farm and needed help. Both of us grew up in that environment."
They have two sons, Marcus, Okolona, a farmer; and Herbert, Columbus, a respiratory therapist at St. Anne's Hospital in Columbus. There are eight grandchildren.
"We've been blessed," said Elvera. "We've had some rough times, but our faith has kept us going. That's more true now that we are older."
The Lutheran Home will honor the couple with a retirement open house on Feb. 15 from 2-4 p.m. A plaque with their names will be mounted in the chapel.
"I don't think we've done any special," Paul said with a smile. "If you work without pay, you get plenty of opportunities."
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