Kermit Elis Schumann, 83, of Stanton, ND, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025, in Harvey, ND, at St. Aloisius Nursing Home. Born March 14, 1942, in Hazen, ND, he grew up in the surrounding area and quickly mastered two lifelong skills: working hard and making people laugh.

After graduating from Hazen High School in 1960, Kermit married Patricia Ryan in 1962, and they soon welcomed their cherished son, Bradley. The young couple moved to Portland, Oregon, where Kermit worked as a painting contractor. Following their divorce, he returned to North Dakota to live with his parents and continue his painting career.

Stepping into the role of single dad without hesitation, Kermit worked tirelessly to provide for Brad — balancing long days of painting with the even more important job of bedtime stories, scraped knees, and fatherly advice. That devotion spoke volumes about his character.

During this chapter of life, Kermit met the gorgeous Sharon Moormann and fell head over heels in love. They married on February 14, 1970 — a date Kermit joked made it harder for him to forget their anniversary. Brad not only gained a mom but also a loving, full family once again.

Together, they returned to the West Coast, where Kermit built a thriving contracting business and welcomed four beautiful daughters, each of whom he loved dearly. Among his many projects, Kermit was especially proud of his work on the famous Fremont Bridge in Portland.

Somewhere along the way, Kermit discovered a passion for pool, joining a local league and becoming a fierce competitor who collected tournament wins the way some people collect coffee mugs. He was also a devoted Elvis Presley fan, once surprising Sharon with tickets to see "The King" live — a night he claimed was almost as exciting as beating a rival pool player.

Kermit's creativity extended far beyond the felt of the pool table. He wrote poetry and stories, and he had a singing voice that could charm just about anyone — though opinions varied on whether it needed quite so much volume.

In 1983, Kermit and Sharon returned to North Dakota to help care for his father after a stroke. Working alongside his mother, he milked cows, farmed wheat, and taught his children (and his wife) the skills needed to run a successful farm. In later years, he created his own business, "Kermit Kourier," delivering supplies from Bismarck to local residents. Those farm years produced countless memories — along with a few lessons in patience when machinery or livestock didn't cooperate.

Trips into town were a highlight for Kermit, though his "quick" errands for tractor parts often turned into extended social calls at local taverns. He never missed a chance to share a joke, swap stories, or line up a shot at the pool table. His quick wit, endless jokes, and hearty laugh made him the unofficial mayor of more than one bar stool.

After he and Sharon divorced in 2000, Kermit moved to Stanton and began the next chapter of his life with Inez Jo Neuberger. He loved her deeply, and together they shared many years filled with card games, pool tournaments, and the company of friends around Stanton and Hazen. When Inez Jo could no longer physically care for him, Kermit moved into the nursing home in Harvey, where his "favorite baby girl," Michelle, could keep an eye on him — though he liked to say he was the one keeping an eye on her.

Kermit is now reunited in heaven with his parents, Milford and Alvina (Berg) Schumann, and his sister, Kay Miller. We suspect the cards are already shuffled, the pool cues are chalked, and his jokes are still as questionable as ever.

He leaves behind his brothers Lonnie, Earl, and Rick Schumann; his children Bradley Schumann, Angie (Mike) Hardison, Susan (Mark) Walz, Alison (Corby) Ward, and Michelle (Eric) Eckart; 16 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren — all of whom inherited his ability to find laughter in just about anything.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, hold your hugs a little longer, and share your best joke — preferably one Kermit wouldn't have to clean up before repeating.

A friends-and-family graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. CDT on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Deapolis Cemetery in Stanton, with lunch to follow at Stanton Park.