Memorial
Merna Jean Schroeder, 99, was called to her Heavenly home on February 17, 2026, after passing away peacefully surrounded by her family. Private graveside services will be at Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield at a later date.
Merna was born in November 1926 to August and Fleta (Dreyer) Schmitt. When Merna was 7 years old, her mother and identical twin sister Esther died. Their children, Merna and Loren Schmitt were then raised by their grandmother, Caroline (Witthoft) Dreyer and Merna's father August in rural Hampton. Merna attended Hampton Public Schools and graduated in 1944. She was united in marriage to Donald W. Schroeder on March 20, 1945. They lived on a farm east of Sheffield during their married life. Two children were born to them, a daughter, Jeri, and a son, Jim. Donald passed away in 1955 in a tractor accident, so Merna attended beauty school at La James College of Hairstyling and operated a beauty shop in her home for 20 years. She then worked for Sukup Mfg. for 16 years and retired in 1993.
During her life Merna was very active in her church, Zion St. John Lutheran, serving on several committees, teaching Sunday School, and sewing robes for the choir. She also had many hobbies, such as ceramics, quilting, knitting and crocheting, and she was an excellent seamstress.
Merna enjoyed shopping, playing card games, and doing jigsaw puzzles with friends and family.
In 2018 Merna moved to The Villages (now Thomas Grove) in Marion, Iowa to be closer to family. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff there for the exceptional care and comfort they provided to Merna.
Left to cherish Merna's memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Jeri and Joe McGillicuddy of Cedar Rapids: their children Matt (Jane) Klinger and Brad (Molly) Klinger; daughter-in-law Jane Schroeder of Dubuque; and her children Jessica Krause and Jeremy Schroeder. Also surviving are five great grandchildren: Jacob and Lucas Krause, Zoey, Austin, and Malcolm Klinger. A special thank you to her eldest grandson, Jeremy, for his sustained support, love, and companionship for his grandma during her last years.
Preceding her in death were her husband Donald, her parents, her stepmother Ethel Schmitt, and her son James Donald Schroeder.
We feel so blessed to have had Merna in our lives and to now have so many wonderful memories of her to carry within our hearts.