Obituary of Reverend Armond David Schoof
The Rev. Armond D. Schoof of Monroe, who served in the Lutheran church for 65 years as a teacher and pastor, died Feb. 12 at 91.
Born Feb. 23, 1927, in Hamtramck, Mich., a city surrounded by Detroit, he was the fourth of eight children of Albert and Elsie Schoof. He attended Martini Lutheran School in Hamtramck, Hamtramck High School, and Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Ill.
While still a college student he taught for one year in the one-room Zion Lutheran School in Granton, Wis. He graduated from college in 1949.
Armond married Arlette Isenberg, whom he met at college, in 1952 in Chicago. They had four children: Martin Thomas (who died in infancy), Renee (Robert Erskine), Brian, and Jonathan (Barbara Doggett).
After Armond’s early teaching years in Chicago and Detroit, the family moved in 1965 to Monroe, where he was a teacher and principal at Trinity Lutheran School from 1965 to 1977. Along with teaching and administration, he led chapel services, taught Saturday confirmation classes, and at times refereed basketball games and drove the school bus, including eighth grade field trips to Cedar Point.
After teaching, he fulfilled a lifelong desire to become a pastor. He attended Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., and was a vicar at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Park City, Mont. He was ordained on Aug. 19, 1979, and served as pastor of two parishes simultaneously, St. Paul’s in Park City and St. Paul’s Columbus, Mont., from 1978 to 1993.
After he retired and moved back to Monroe, he served more than 40 congregations in the Detroit and Toledo area as a substitute or interim pastor.
To friends and family he was known for his kindness and encouragement, his ability to tell a good tale, and his exuberance in card games (euchre especially). He also enjoyed sports, newspapers, art and music, and was a regular Toledo Symphony concertgoer.
Armond is survived by his wife, children and three grandchildren: Mary Claire and Ellena Erskine and Jonathan Armond Schoof.
Visitation is 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, February 18, 2019 at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe, 2442 North Monroe Street (734)384-5185. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church.
Online guests may visit www.merklefs.com.