Obituary of Douglas Pete Schram

Douglas Pete Schram, 66, of LaBelle, FL, died at 4:05 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2014 at his home with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Mr. Schram was born on March 26, 1947 in Benton, IL the son of Oness Pearl "Poss" Schram and Celia (McAdoo) Schram. He married the former Beverly Guntrum on November 23, 1985 and she survives. Pete was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served his country during the Vietnam War. He worked as a coal miner at Freeman United Coal Mine #3 and #4, Albers Mine, and the Inland Steel Mine in McLeansboro. He was a truck driver for PST Trucking and Summers Excavating before his relocation to Florida. He worked as a maintenance foreman at LaBelle Plant World, a supervisor at Nobles Groves in LaBelle, FL and as a maintenance foreman at Gator Harvesting in LaBelle, FL. He loved spending time with his pets; TK, Cookie, and, Penelope. Papa Pete enjoyed being the "partner in crime" with Kaylee and Catlin, making wooden toys & furniture for neighborhood friends. Pete spent many mornings drinking coffee at the "liars table" and telling stories with friends and veterans. Surviving relatives include his wife, Beverly Schram, LaBelle, FL, six children, Stephen (Tammy) Schram, Rock Hill, SC, Melinda (Tim) Tennant, DuQuoin, IL, Gregory (Carrie) Guntrum, Lehigh Acres, FL, Tina Neibel, Johnston City, IL, Kelly (Joe) Guntrum-Penna, St. Petersburg, FL, and Ryan Schram, Marion, IL, eleven grandchildren, Jared Schram, Katie Holloman, Tyler Guntrum, Lauren Tennant, Mackenzie Schram, Hunter Frick, Caitlin Holt, Emily Tennant, Joseph Schram, Kaylee Guntrum, Jaydn Schram, great-grandson expected in April, Lyric Michael Schram, one brother, Jack (Margaret) Schram, Macon, IL, one sister, Joyce (Jim) Ragan, Buckner, IL, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Schram was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Elizabeth Hernandez, Jean Summers, and Ramona Lewis, and four brothers, Robert Jarvis Schram, Billy Floyd Schram, George Truman Schram and Paul Roger Schram and grandson, Stephen Schram, Jr. The family wants to give a special thanks to caregivers Ramona Holt, Lisa Reinbott and Hope Rivas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 or the charity of the donor's choice and will be accepted at the funeral home in honor of Pete. Cremation services were provided by Akin-Davis Funeral Home, LaBelle, FL. Visit www.akin-davis.com and www.hobbsjohnson.com to sign the memorial guestbook.