27-05-2025
Al Schoeneman: A life of lumber and philanthropy
HARRISBURG, S.D. (KELO) — After more than 50 years in the lumber business, Al Schoeneman has decided to call it quits.
From its downtown location, to the store on Western Avenue, for decades, Schoeneman's Building Materials was a staple in the Sioux Falls community.
However, Schoeneman made an impact beyond selling lumber and screws.
Last week, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the retirement of Al Schoeneman.
Schoeneman was the fourth generation to work at his family's lumber company.
'It was started by my great grandfather down in Walnut, Iowa,' Schoeneman said.
Schoeneman's was established all the way back in 1888. Al got his start there in the 1970s.
'When I got out of college, I couldn't find another job, so I asked them my dad and uncle if I could to come to work in the business. They were happy to have me,' Schoeneman said.
About a century after its founding, Schoeneman's moved its headquarters to Sioux Falls. Around 2008, Al took over Schoeneman's from his father Cecil and his uncle Herb, who were both in their 90s at the time.
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During his time leading Schoneman's, Al became more than someone who sold building materials. Pat Costello got a front-row seat to Al's giving heart.
'His reach has been far and wide and deep in this community, and he is a quiet individual who has had an enormous impact,' Costello said.
Al had a soft spot for non-profits. For example, he helped secure the lumber for the current building that makes up the St. Francis House.
'We have grown to what we are today, and we continue to grow. He helped build that foundation of our agency to take the next step,' St. Francis House CEO Julie Becker said.
He was also someone the Eagle Scouts turned to whenever a new project rolled around. To show their gratitude, the Sioux Council Boy Scouts gifted Al a plaque and a coin.
'The stories that are shared about the never-ending parade perhaps of young Eagle Scout candidates trying to develop the plans for their Eagle leadership project as they came before Al seeking assistance and funding the donations for their Eagle Scout projects, lumber, hardware, all of the various things that were needed, and Al generously supported them,' former Sioux Council Boy Scouts president Reid Christopherson said
His giving didn't stop at outside organizations. About 10 years ago, Al changed Schoeneman's to an ESOP, or an employee stock ownership plan.
'There's a lot of people that woke up with a lot more in their retirement account when that happened,' Costello said.
But if you ask Al, his love for giving was something he learned from the people who came before him.
'That goes back to a lot of people in our community that kind of set the pace that all of us in my generation should do, that we should give back to the community and and different agencies that need help,' Schoeneman said.
About one year ago, the remaining Schoeneman's locations were acquired by Builders First Source, a company headquartered out of Texas. At Al's retirement party, BFS employees wore a white shirt and black tie, an ode to how the Schoeneman's sales team used to dress. Now, after a proper sendoff, Al can start building the next chapter of his life.
Jordan: What are you going to miss the most about this?
Al: Just seeing the people.
The people will miss him as well.
'What a legacy he has left in this community because of his generosity and his giving heart,' Becker said.
'To have a community made up of people like Al Schoeneman is beyond measure. It is just beyond belief what that man has done for the community,' Christopherson said.
'I just don't think you're going to find amore honest man with this much integrity, and he is just a sweetheart of a man. The world is a better place because of Al Schoeneman,' Costello said.
Schoeneman was also named South Dakota Philanthropist of the Year in 2005 and was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2010.
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