Schade, Louise Bertha 1924-2016

SCHADE, WENNDT, SCHROEDER, ADAMI, STUEDEMANN, ALM, GEHRLS, BOGGESS, MORGAN

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 3/11/2016 at 08:40:32

Mrs. Louise B. Schade, 91, of DeWitt, died Sunday morning, February 28, 2016, at the Kahl Home, Davenport.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt from 4 until 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3rd. A Service of Christian burial will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt, at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 4, 2016, with the Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt. Memorials may be made to the DeWitt Veteran’s Memorial and Grace Lutheran Church.

Louise Bertha Schroeder was born September 11, 1924, at Lowden to Louis and Martha (Wenndt) Schroeder. She was baptized September 28, 1924, and confirmed April 28, 1938, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowden. She received her elementary education at Trinity Lutheran School in Lowden and graduated with Honors from Lowden High School in 1942.

On April 27, 1947, she was united in marriage to Melvin Schade. The couple lived in Durant until moving to DeWitt in 1950. They were members at Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt, where they were Walther League counselors and Louise taught Sunday school for many years and was a member of the Miriam Circle. Her husband preceded her in death on December 16, 2001.

Louise was employed at the Dewitt Observer, retiring in 1993 after 27 years. She received several awards in display advertising from the Iowa Newspaper Association. Louise enjoyed bowling and was instrumental in the formation of the DeWitt Junior Bowling Association and served as its secretary-treasurer for 31 years. She also coached for the Tuesday Bantam League.

In her retirement years, Louise devoted her spare time working for The American Legion and Auxiliary. She was a life member of Eugene McManus Auxiliary Unit #238, DeWitt, a life member of the DAV, and a member of the Iowa American Legion Press Association, serving as secretary-treasurer for several terms. She was editor of the Post/Unit #238 newsletter for eight years. Louise held many offices in the auxiliary at the unit, county and district levels, including Second District ALA President in 1992-1993. She also won many Iowa department president’s awards for her history books and public relations achievements. Louise was proud of her husband Melvin’s military service and was supportive when he initiated the Avenue of Flags in 1995 at St. Joseph and Elmwood Cemeteries in DeWitt, serving as secretary of the board of volunteers until 2015. They took many trips to attend national conventions of The American Legion Family.

Louise and Melvin enjoyed ballroom dancing. She also enjoyed playing the piano, and volunteering in activities that involved her children. She loved playing cards with friends and belonged to several card clubs. Louise was a talented seamstress, making clothes for her daughters during their school years and later their wedding dresses. In her retirement, she enjoyed quilting and made many beautiful quilts, gifting one to each grandchild for their high school graduation. Above all, Louise was very family oriented. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, always encouraging them to do their best.

She is survived and lovingly remembered by her four daughters and their husbands, Sharon (Nick) Adami of Bloomingdale, Illinois; Nancy (Wayne) Stuedemann, DeWitt; Twyla (Robert) Alm, Camanche; and Mary (Craig) Gehrls, Eldridge; eight grandchildren, Andrew Adami, Angela Stuedemann, Cyanna (Matt) Boggess, Ashley Alm, Mallory (Joe) Morgan, Kristina Gehrls, Allison Gehrls and Abbi Gehrls; two step-grandchildren, Bryce Gehrls and Eric Gehrls and two great-granddaughters, Rylee and Parker Boggess.

In addition to her husband, Melvin, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Clara Schroeder.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.