Schinkel, Leah 1929-2009

SCHINKEL, OELKE, SIEWERT

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/22/2009 at 21:35:26

From: Le Mar Daily Sentinel, September 22, 2009

Leah Schinkel of Carroll, and a former Le Mars resident, died and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at Sunnybrook of Carroll in Carroll. She was 80 years, 8 months and 10 days of age.

Leah, the daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Oelke) Siewert, was born at home on the farm near Torrington, Alberta, Canada, Jan. 9, 1929. She attended Kneehill country school.

Leah earned a degree from Hillcrest Bible College and later a bachelor's degree from Westmar College in Le Mars. She continued her education in literature.

While attending Bible college, Leah met Oscar J. Schinkel. They were united in marriage July 17, 1948, at Torrington Evangelical Church. They had three daughters. The family moved often because Oscar pastored numerous churches in Canada and the U.S.

Leah enjoyed singing and serving as choir director. She taught Stonecroft Bible Study courses, was a member of Garden Club and Christian Women's Club, and served on the board of the YWCA. She and her husband enjoyed bowling and golf.

Leah was an avid reader, walker and gardener, as well as being accomplished at sewing and many crafts. Leah wrote and published four books and was a world traveler. They lived in Owensboro, Ky., when Oscar died in 1998.

Leah remained active and walked many miles daily well into her 70s.

She moved to Carroll in July 2006, and lived at Sunnybrook of Carroll.

She is survived by her three daughters: Evangeline and Don Stender of Black River Falls, Wis., Jocelyn and Dennis Guthrie of Hope, Mich., and Carmen and Gene Thiedeman of Westside; six grandchildren: Justin and Shynell (and husband Craig); Leigh and Gavin; and Bart and Caleb; one great-grandson, Keegan; a sister Lily Berreth of Peace River, Alberta, Canada; a sister-in-law Hilda Gresham of El Centro, Calif.; other relatives and friends.

Preceding Leah in death are her parents; husband; three sisters: Selma (Roy) Davidson; Elsie (Charlie) Schaefer; Ruth (Edwin) Stickel; and brother-in-law Dan Berreth.

Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning, with the Rev. Ken Ferguson of First United Methodist Church, Carroll, and the Rev. Ben Dose, Zion Lutheran Church, Arcadia, officiating. Private interment will be in Westside Cemetery at Westside.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Leah's grandsons and sons-in-law: Gene Thiedeman, Dennis Guthrie, Don Stender, Gavin Thiedeman, Bart Guthrie and Justin Stender .