Mary Ellen (Strief) Schroeder, 1930-2009

SCHROEDER, STRIEF, HORSFIELD, FERN, GRISANTI, BROWN, HERMSEN, CALLAHAN, WOLFE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/26/2015 at 22:35:39

Mary Ellen Schroeder, 78, of Farley, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, at 4:50 a.m. at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley, with the Rev. Dennis Cain officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, where a wake service will be held at 4 p.m. and the Farley American Legion Post 656 will attend at 6 p.m.

Mary Ellen was born Aug. 16, 1930, in Epworth, Iowa, daughter of Robert Lee and Calista (Horsfield) Strief. She received her education in the rural country schools and Farley public school. On June 21, 1952, she was united in marriage to Willis "Bill" Schroeder at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley. Mary was a homemaker, and also operated taverns with her husband in Epworth, Farley and later in Bankston, Iowa.

Mary Ellen enjoyed people and working with the public. She enjoyed bowling on a team for many years, and always liked a good game of euchre. Mary also loved to travel every year to Vegas with Darla. Brian treated her to many trips, the last to Ireland. She also enjoyed her fishing trips to Cantril thanks to Randy.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Parish in Farley.

She is survived by her husband, Willis; 13 children, Pam (Mark) Fern and Randy (Annie) Schroeder, both of Farley, Sharon (Al) Grisanti of Dubuque, Bob Schroeder and Steve (Sharon) Schroeder, both of Farley, Mike (Linda) Schroeder of Dyersville, Mark (Linda) Schroeder of Dubuque, Nancy (Tom) Brown of Gardner, Kan., Pat (Ann) Schroeder of Peosta, Darla (Mark) Hermsen of Farley, Tom (Janette) Schroeder of Cedar Rapids, Brian Schroeder of Los Angeles, Calif., and Sam Schroeder (friend, Lolita) of Phoenix, Ariz.; 25 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Joyce (Tony) Callahan of Marion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Calista Strief; and one granddaughter, Margaret Mary Ellen Wolfe.

Memorials for Mary E. Schroeder may be given to Hospice Dubuque in lieu of flowers.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reiff funeralhomeinc.com

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and the staff at Shady Rest Care Center for all the great care given to Mary Ellen.

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