Benjamin Frederick Schumm

Benjamin Frederick Schumm, 93, of Orion, Illinois, passed away peacefully at his home on September 13, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday September 17, 2025, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. in Moline, Illinois. A private graveside service for the family will be held separately at Western Township Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to QC Paws or OSF Children’s Hospital.

He is survived by his daughters: Karen (John) Brown of Santa Fe, NM; Linda Schumm of Mackinaw, IL; and Cindy Gladkin (Randy Rutledge) of Coal Valley, IL; and his special friend and companion, Vicki Sides. He is also survived by two brothers, three sisters, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and his dogs Red Dog and Blue Dog. Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, and his brother, David.

Ben was born January 10, 1932, in Worthington, Minnesota, to Frederick and Mabel Schumm, and grew up in rural Minnesota. As a teenager, he rode the rails across the Midwest, taking odd jobs before settling in Orion, Illinois, where he worked for more than a decade for Wayne Sievers Trucking. His early mechanical skills led him to serve in the Army Motor Pool at Panmunjom during the Korean War - experience that prepared him for a lifetime in trucking and heavy equipment.

In 1968, Ben founded Ben Schumm Trucking, Grading and Excavating in Orion, a one-man business he ran for decades. Known for quality and dependability, he completed extensive municipal and railroad projects. Among the construction sites he prepared are Interstate 74, SouthPark Mall, Orion High School, Highland Toyota, and the Rock Island County Animal Shelter. Though he scaled back operations in recent years, Ben continued full-time work well into his 80s. With his passing, the family business will conclude operations, marking the end of an era.

Ben’s wit and humor were legendary - he even joked about the “terrible day” his doctor switched him from Budweiser to Bud Light - and he was perhaps best known for the grand handlebar mustache he wore for decades. He loved his Boston Terriers - often named “Budweiser.” Outside of work, he loved gardening, collecting old tractors and machinery, and tinkering on new projects. His mind and body remained strong and active until the end.

Memories may be shared at esterdahl.com.