Lifetime of service yields award for Schumaker

FORT MADISON - Fulfillment is a feeling many people chase their whole lives, yet Karen Schumaker found that feeling early on by dedicating her life to teaching faith and education to her community’s youth for nearly 50 years at Camp Lookout and Holy Trinity Catholic Schools. On July 13, 2025, Schumaker, of Holy Trinity Catholic School, was awarded the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes people who demonstrate unwavering dedication to their faith community and charity. The award was presented by the Knights of Columbus, Council 739.
Schumaker was born in Fort Madison, attended Aquinas School, the predecessor to Holy Trinity Catholic School. She started volunteering as a senior counselor at Camp Lookout in 1976, then, after 12 years of being the program director, she became the camp board co-chair. Aside from helping make decisions and teaching at Camp Lookout, she helps clean up and wash dishes to take the burden off the others. For Schumaker, Camp Lookout is about helping kids build and shape their lives, teaching them to make good decisions, how to become a better person, and how to serve others. One can spend 5 minutes in the room with her and her students, and can immediately sense this is her calling from the bond and respect the kids have for her.
After studying elementary and special education at Iowa Wesleyan University, she took a teaching job at Aquinas Schools in 1979, which would later become Holy Trinity Catholic in 2005.

“I just really enjoy working with youth and helping them to see their full potential in that,” Schumaker said as she approaches her 47th year of teaching at the school. She originally took the teaching job as a short term gig, but time flew for her as she fell in love with the work she did. She has always strived to show her students their full potential, not just in education, but through learning about themselves, their relationship with God, and learning to work together with others.
Her devotional outreach spans beyond teaching at HTC and volunteering at Camp Lookout; she has been volunteering as a religious educator and choir leader for 47 years at Holy Family Parish Church. She leads Operation Christmas Child annually, delivering gifts and the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to children around the world. She is also active in the Old Fort Players. For Schumaker, her work isn’t a mere part of her life - it’s the pulse.
“It's kind of like a lifestyle. Something I can do to give back and to help people and feel like I'm touching lives,” Schumaker said. She considers Holy Trinity Catholic Schools and Camp Lookout as a family to her. 
Schumaker was surprised by the award, saying, “I would like to thank the Knights of Columbus Council 739 for presenting me with your Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of unselfish, devoted service. I was truly surprised by this honor. I am deeply humbled to receive this award. Thank you for this great honor."