Arlene (Watt) SCHRODER THAYER

SCHRODER, THAYER, WATT, LAVELL, WHIPPLE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/22/2009 at 18:12:17

BELMOND - Arlene Watt Schroder Thayer, 102, a longtime Wright County, Iowa, resident passed away. Arlene died Sunday (March 15, 2009) at Ellsworth Municipal Hospital, Iowa Falls, as a result of pneumonia and age-related factors. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19, at Calvary Baptist Church, 516 E. Main St., Belmond, with Pastor Steven Hill officating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Dows. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Arlene's name may wish to consider Calvary Baptist Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or to the donor's choice.

Arlene Watt was born on the family farm in Vernon Township, Wright County, on July 5, 1906, to Tom and Maude (Lavell) Watt. She was the middle child of a family of five. She attended the rural Vernon No. 5 School in Vernon Township. On Sept. 22, 1926, she was united in marriage to Harry W. Schroder at the bride's home near Galt. To this union were born a son, Erwin Leroy (AKA as Jack) and two daughters, Va Donna Jean and Rita Rae. After the death of Mr. Schroder on Oct. 23, 1964, she married Ralph Thayer of Belmond in January 1966. Mr. Thayer passed away in August 1975. Arlene's entire life was spent in the Galt, Dows, Rowan and Belmond areas. She spent several winters in Florida. Arlene was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Belmond and was active in church activities. She was a longtime member, until the time of her death, of the Blaine Friendship Club. Arlene loved her garden and flowers and enjoyed doing hand work. She was a lifelong home maker and had worked as a cook for a time at the Belmond Health Care Center. She had the unique privilege of having her driver's license renewed when she had reached age 100. After suffering a stroke in May 2007, she resided at Scenic Manor Care Center in Iowa Falls.

Survivors include her daughters, Va Donna and husband, John Whipple, and Rita and husband, Dwight Daniels, all of Iowa Falls; daughter-in-law, Mabel Schroder of Charles City; two sisters-in-law, Marjorie Watt of Swaledale and Jeanette Schroder of Belmond; 12 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren; and other family members. Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Maude Watt; one sister, Mae; three brothers, David, Tom and Don; two husbands, Harry Schroder and Ralph Thayer; one son, Erwin (Jack); one daughter-in-law, Doris Schroder; two grandsons, Wayne Whipple and Douglas Schroder; one granddaughter, Shelly Schroder; and two great-grandsons, Ryan Schroder and Calieb Schroder. Andrews Funeral Home.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
March 18, 2009