Schnepf, Esther 1915-2005

SCHNEPF, FREKING, KOOPMAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann (email)
Date: 4/14/2005 at 11:50:53

Esther Schnepf, 89, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at the Assumption Home in Cold Spring, Minn.

Mary Esther Schnepf was born April 29, 1915, at St. Killian, Minn., the daughter of Aloysious H. and Kathryn (Freking) Koopman. When she was a young girl, she came to Le Mars for elementary school, living with her grandparents during the school year, until her parents moved back. Esther graduated high school from St. Joseph's Parochial School in Le Mars.

On Jan. 26, 1938, Esther married Elmer Schnepf at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. The couple farmed near Oyens for 27 years. Her husband, Elmer died May 3, 1965. After Elmer's death, Esther lived for many years at 243 10th Ave. S.E. in Le Mars. In the last few years of her life, Esther lived at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars and most recently at Assumption Home in Cold Spring, Minn.

Mrs. Schnepf was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, and before that a parishioner of St. Catherine's Church in Oyens. Her faith was an important part of her life. She was a member and past president of the Christian Mother's Society. She had also been a member of the Tuesday Afternoon Coffee/Bowling League.

Esther loved visiting, playing cards, and garage sales. She was famous for her chocolate chip cookies, packed in Pringles cans. All of her sons' friends recognized those mailed packages and magically showed up when they arrived.

Survivors include five sons and their wives: Charles and Barbara Schnepf of Gold Canyon, Ariz., and their children, Brian, Sarah, and Krista; David Schnepf of Petal, Miss.; Paul and Connie Schnepf of Deer Park, Ill., and their children, Katie, Matt, Carla, and Scott; James Schnepf and Connie Nelson of St. Cloud, Minn., and their children, Nick and Emily; and Mark and Ann Schnepf of Milford, Conn.; a daughter-in-law Lorraine (Schnepf) Liefer of Red Bud, Ill., and children, Tom, Sharon, and Alan; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Mark Koopman and his wife, Bernice, and Les Koopman, both of Le Mars; and eight sisters-in-law: Darlene Koopman, Marlys Koopman, Phyllis Koopman, Marian Fitzpatrick, Loretta Schnepf and Theresa Schnepf, all of Le Mars, Jane Even and her husband Mike of Alton, and Delores Flaherty and her husband, Tom of Dallas, Texas; and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer Schnepf; an infant daughter Mary, and a son, Larry Schnepf; a sister Harriet Goerdt; and four brothers: Delbert, Marcel, Elwood, and Wayne Koopman.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. James Tigges presiding. Burial will be in St. Catherine's Catholic Cemetery in Oyens. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Sunday at the Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars, with a Christian Mother's rosary at 4 p.m. and the Scriptural Wake Service at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Gehlen Schools.