Schwaller, Verna Mae A.

SCHWALLER, TIEFENTHALER, SUND, AUEN, KNIERIM, SCHROEDER, KROS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Carol Auen (email)
Date: 11/11/2022 at 15:24:54

Verna Mae Schwaller
September 15, 1932 - November 29, 2021

Verna Mae Schwaller, age 89, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2021, at her residence of Odebolt, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 10, 2021, at the St. Martin’s Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Father Joseph Dillinger and Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. A Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Friday, December 10, 2021, at the St. Martin’s Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Committal Services will follow in the St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Verna Mae (Tiefenthaler) Schwaller passed away at her home in Odebolt, Iowa, on November 29, 2021.

Verna Mae was born September 15, 1932, to Herb and Martha (Derner) Tiefenthaler near Ulmer, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda, Iowa. Verna Mae attended country school and graduated from 8th grade when the family moved to a farm near Odebolt in 1946, graduating from Odebolt High School in 1950. She worked at the Mullen Law firm until she married the love of her life, Donald W. Schwaller, on January 19, 1952. They then lived on two different farms near Odebolt, farming until 1967 when they moved into town. To this union seven children were born: Linda, Bill, Carol, Tom, Doug, Jim and Ann.

Besides being a homemaker, Verna Mae worked at the Odebolt Co-op Elevator as bookkeeper for 13 years. She then received her Activity Director Certification and began working in that capacity for Colonial Manor Nursing Home, and later as Secretary for FDIC in Odebolt and at Early.

Verna Mae was very active volunteering around the Odebolt community over the years. She served in a variety of roles at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. She also was the curator of the Odebolt Museum and was actively involved in getting the Museum relocated to its current home. Verna Mae was president of the Colonial Manor Nursing Home’s Auxiliary for numerous years and later volunteered with organizing Bingo twice a week and enjoyed visiting with the residents. She also participated on numerous clubs and loved making and decorating wedding cakes for family as well as making special cakes for her grandchildren. Verna Mae and Don enjoyed camping after their retirement and were members of the Good Sam Camping Club traveling around the state.

Verna Mae loved to spend time with her eleven grandchildren: Broc (Amy) Auen, Melanie and Megan Auen, Abby Sund (Neil) Harnett and Maggie Sund (Shawn) McGillis, Ashley Schwaller (Chris) Gregory, Scott and Christi Schwaller, Tyler (Teeranand Promsuwan) Knierim and Caitlin Knierim, and Kevin Schwaller; and nine great-grandchildren: Jace, Brenen and Marley Auen, Olivia Harnett, Callie and Kelci McGillis, and Claire, Amelia and Rosalyn Gregory.

Verna Mae is survived by her children: Linda Sund of Thompson Falls, MT, Bill (Sue) Schwaller of Cherokee, IA, Carol (Bob) Auen of Odebolt, IA, Tom (Kim) Schwaller of Overland Park, KS, Doug Schwaller of Odebolt, IA, Jim (Kim) Schwaller of South Elgin, IL and Ann (Steve) Knierim of Cedar Rapids, IA; her two sisters: Thelma (Darrell) Schroeder and Kathy (Tom) Kros; sisters-in-law Phyllis Tiefenthaler and Joyce Wee; and brother-in-law Neal Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, who passed away on January 24, 2004; grandson Scott Schwaller; son-in-law Dave Sund; three brothers: Mark in infancy, Leonard and Robert Tiefenthaler; sister Karen Johnson; sisters-in-law Janice Tiefenthaler and Bonnie Jones; and brothers-in-law Mike Jones and Bob Wee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials made in Verna Mae’s memory to a charity of your choice.

Source: Christensen Van Houten Funeral Home