Marjorie Schroeder, 92, of Postville, Iowa died Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Lantern Park, Coralville, Iowa. Marjorie Mae (Rekow) Schroeder was born May 14, 1924 to Henry William Theodore Rekow and Mabel Sophia Wilhelmina (Kruse) Rekow on the Bruns farm in Grand Meadow Township, Clayton County, near Luana, Iowa.
She was baptized June 15, 1924 by the Rev. H. P. Kumph at the Luana Lutheran Church, and was confirmed July 23, 1939 in St. John’s Lutheran Church at Waukon, IA by Rev. Kjorlaug. Marjorie attended the Luana School for several years, transferring to the Postville High School and was graduated from there in 1941.
Marjorie was fortunate to find at job at the Bakery in Postville. A distant cousin, who managed the Chicago Towel Company heard that they were looking for work and invited them to come to Chicago. Marjorie, her sister, Gwen and a cousin, Ruth Rekow boarded the train to Chicago. During that time they lived with family friends in their home. Marge was transferred to the company office where she was employed as a statistical typist for six years.
On September 1, 1944 Marjorie was married to Stan Schroeder at the Lutheran Service Men’s Center in New York. Stan was serving in the U. S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in New York. Following Stan’s discharge from the Navy, the couple lived in Chicago in Hyde Park for several years. They returned to Postville where they managed the family grocery store following the death of Stan’s father. Two children were born to this union, Sally and Chance.
Marge was employed at the Gregg Lumber Yard for a year and then began doing the bookwork at her home for the Postville Feed Mill and its various owners. She became the full time bookkeeper for 27 years. For 13 years she was employed by the Postville Co-Op. She also kept the books for two beauty shops, a welding business, Ambulance Service, and the Postville Cemetery, which she continued until the time of her retirement at the age of 70 and even after that time.
Marge served on the Postville Library Board for many years and was active in St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Historical Society. Due to her husband’s interest in local history, the couple entertained many people who came to town to gather information for their books and articles written about the area. Marjorie was a familiar figure in the community and knew many people and will be remembered by their families as well
She is preceded in death by her husband, Stan, who died June 22, 2010, her parents, Henry and Mabel, three sisters, a baby in infancy, Donna, who died in 1930, Gwendolyn Boske, who died in 2005, and a brother, Burdette, who died in 1940; brothers-in-law, Edward Boske, The Reverend Duane Schroeder, Gerald Schroeder, and Lyle Schroeder.
Surviving are two children, Sally (Ron) Rahde, North Liberty, IA, and Chance Schroeder, Iowa City, IA; four grandchildren, Travis (Faith) Blair, Joshua (Megan) Blair, Lucas Blair, and Cade (Shannon) Rahde; nine great grandchildren, Garett, Coy, and Micah Blair, Noah, Brady and Olivia Blair; Dylan and Alexis Blair, and Ezekiel Rahde; a brother, Leigh (Gwen) Rekow, Postville, IA; two sisters, Karen (David) Schutte, Postville, IA, and Sherrill (Leslie) Heckman, Mountain Home, AR; two sisters-in-law, Lois Schroeder Neisen, Woodruff, WI, and Elizabeth Schroeder, Citrus Heights, CA.
A Celebration of Life will be Friday, March 3, 2017 at 4:00 pm with a Memorial Service at 5:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, Iowa. There will be a meal at 6:00 pm and everyone is welcome.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.