Joseph “Joe” Schan

Joseph “Joe” Schan, 84,

Minot, died Friday, No-

vember 13 2020 at Fargo’s

Sanford Hospital.

Joseph Richard Schan

was born on December 28,

1935, the third of seven

children born to Raymond

and Theresa (Lauinger)

Schan while his family

lived on the Blackstead

farmstead near Verendrye,

ND. He was raised and

educated in Butte until

the age of 15. He and his

family then moved to

Minot where he attended

St. Leo’s Catholic School

graduating in 1954, mak-

ing lifelong friends. While

in high school he started

the work ethic we all ad-

mired. Father Fahnlander

got Joe a job at ABC

Cleaners.

Following graduation,

he worked on the section

for Soo Line Railroad. In

the fall of 1954 he attend-ed Minot State College. In

approximately 1956 Joe

worked for Peter Kewitt

and Sons building run-

ways at MAFB for 2 sum-

mers. While taking

classes, Joe grew his ex-

periences with Great

Northern Railroad work-

ing in the maintenance

department, clerking,

switchman and working

as a firefighter. In January

of 1959 he volunteered for

the draft. In the Army he

drove high ranking off-

icers around and operated

a forklift. Joe was honor-

ably discharged in De-

cember of 1960.

Following the service,

he worked as a drapery

installer for Tollefson’s for

a short period. In 1961,

Joe became a switchman

for the Great Northern

Railroad where he

remained until retiring in

1997 as a brakeman. Dur-

ing those dedicated rail

years, in 1962-1978 he

also worked part-time for

Budweiser where he or-

dered, unloaded and tran-

sported for them.

Joe was an active

member of Our Lady of

Grace Catholic Church

where he was a devoted

usher, and would go to

say rosary nearly every

day. He also was an active

member of NARVE (Na-

tional Association of Re-

tired & Veteran Railway

Employees, Inc.), the

Minot American Legion

Post 26 and the Minot

Moose Lodge where he

was a loyal volunteer. He

loved going to the YMCA

daily, to work out and to

visit with his friends. He

also belonged to the

Knights of Columbus.

Joe enjoyed golf, a com-

petitive game of cards and

sports, especially cheering

on the Minnesota Vikings.

He was a family man to

his core, taking on a new

meaning when he became

an uncle and a “grandpa.”

He was happiest when he

was surrounded by family

and friends. He loved at-

tending his great nephews

and nieces sporting

events. He will be deeply

missed.

Joe became the ultimate

Grandfather when Eddie

was born. He was for-

tunate that Eddie and his

parents lived in Minot

and we could be close. Joe

took over as day care pro-

vider when Eddie was 3.

The bond between them

was beautiful. He was so

proud of Eddie, as was

Eddie of his Grandfather.

Eddie participated in

sports all his life and

Grandpa was his biggest

fan.

He is survived by:

Companion of 27 years,

Karen Leier, brothers: Se-

bastian “Skip” Schan,

Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.

Patrick Schan, Boise.

Idaho and sister, Mary

Streifel, Minot.

brother-in-law, David

Mosser, Minot, several

nieces, and nephews and

cousins, and grandson,

Eddie Fry of Minot.

Joe was preceded in

death by: his parents, sis-

ters, Eva Miller, and Mar-

lene Mosser, brother-in

law, Andy Miller,

sister-in-laws, June

Schan, Patsy Schan and

brother, Richard.

Due to the Covid-19

pandemic, a private fami-

ly service will be held Sa-

turday, November 21,

2020 at 11:00 am at

Rosehill Memorial Park,

Minot.

Friends may sign an on-

line guest register at

www.thompson

larson.com.