SCHAU, Donna May (1929-2018)

SCHAU

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/8/2024 at 09:42:30

Donna May (Clark) Schau
(March 11, 1929 - June 20, 2018)

Donna May (Clark) Schau, age 89, of Ida Grove, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa. Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. Rev. Kevin J. Freese will officiate; with Committal Services following in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa.
Donna May was born on March 11, 1929 in Ida Grove, the third of 8 children of John and Ida Rosina Clark. Regardless of where she was in the world, she was quick to tell people she was born and lived in the same town her entire life; she loved Ida Grove and was very proud of where she was from. She received her education in country school until she entered high school when she moved to town into an apartment with other girls as there was no bus transportation. While in high school, she worked at Koons Bakery to support herself. During this time, she met the love of her life, Antone (Tony) Schau, and they eloped March 16, 1946. They lived in town until 1973 when they moved to their present home outside of Ida Grove where she lived until her death. While she adored Tony and her children, she always regretted not completing high school and after having six children, she would sit late in the evening and study and was so very proud when she achieved her goal and earned a high school degree. It set an example for her children and she was always passionate about the need to continuously learn. This drive gave her the advantage and she proved to be a challenge to beat in Jeopardy as she answered question after question with a shy smile on her face or a raised eyebrow when asked how she knew the answer. Donna undertook the most difficult job of raising eight children for 37 years, born from 1947 to 1966. During this time, she worked very hard to support the family she and Tony so loved by canning food, raising chickens, sewing clothes for her children, and cooking homemade meals nonstop. It was rare to have a meal where there was only family present; there always seemed to be one more person at the table and they were always welcome. Donna was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church in Ida Grove. In addition to her primary role as mother and wife, she led Boy Scout troops, Girl Scout troops, helped with church vacation bible school and youth groups, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Horn Memorial Auxiliary, participated in bowling league, and served as mayor's wife for 8 years. One of her proudest moments was a trip she and Tony made to Washington, D.C. for a mayor's convention where she reunited with a childhood friend, Harold Hughes, who was then a senator and also served as governor of Iowa. She and Tony started Schau Towing & Salvage and while Tony did the heavy lifting, Donna was the one in the background doing all the billing, keeping the books, doing the taxes, and serving as receptionist for the business. She rarely complained about it and she and Tony were one tremendous team at building a business while giving back and helping others in need. Left to cherish her memories are 8 children: Diane Mae Young of Battle Creek, Douglas Antone (Mary) Schau of Ida Grove, Debra Rae (Jim) Tuttle of Redlands, California, Denise Kay (Harry) Lasell of St. Jacob, Illinois, Darla Fay Schau of St. Jacob, Illinois, Dorene Gay Schau of Ida Grove, Donna Sue Schau of Post Falls, Idaho and Darin Antone (Gina) Schau of Ida Grove. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. At the time of her passing, there were two groups of 5 generations. Additional survivors include a sister, Arlene (Claude) Klein and a brother Ronnie (Pat) Clark, both of Hale, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Eunice Nepper of Ida Grove and Margaret Schau of Spencer, Iowa, and numerous nephews and nieces. Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tony; her parents; an infant brother; brother Lorren (Mike) Clark and his wife, Ginny; brother Duane (Bud) Clark and his wife, Phyllis; sister Doris (Dodie) Dudgeon and her husband, Cliff; brother Johnny Clark; son-in-law Dennis Young; grandson Joaquin Tuttle; brothers-in-law, Edward Schau, Henry Schau, Walter Schau, Raymond Schau, Robert Nepper; and sisters-in-law Margie Konradi, Bertha Rehse, Greta Mauer, and Rosie Haugsted. Source - Christenson-Van Houten Funeral Services, 321 2nd St., Ida Grove, IA. 51445