Leona Schroeder, 90, of Liberal, Kansas passed away Sunday, August 19, 2012 at Liberal Springs in Liberal, Kansas.
Leona Katherine Schroeder was born November 14, 1921 in Burton, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Maria Jantzen Friesen. As a young child her family moved from Burton, Kansas to a farm east of Hooker then they moved to the Adams Community. She attended school at Adams and graduated from Adams High School. She married David K. Schroeder November 14, 1943 at the Mennonite Brethren Church in Adams. They resided in Placerville, CA and Tillamook, OR for a couple of years before moving back to the Adams Community.
They had two children, Gary Schroeder and Vernelle Schroeder Unrau. Two things that were very important to Leona were her devoted faith in Jesus Christ and her belief in the importance of family values and heritage.
Leona was a member of the Adams Mennonite Brethren Church. She was faithful in attendance and service, teaching Vacation Bible School and Girls’ Fellowship, also participating in Women’s Sewing Circle. Leona and David were consistently involved in hospitality ministry, preparing food for church events and the MCC sale. Their home was open for friends and family members who needed a meal or a place to spend a night.
Leona faithfully supported her husband in his vocation of farming and construction. At harvest time she would be busy preparing meals to take to the fields. Sometimes she would assist in construction projects by sanding woodwork and painting. Leona and David had a strong supportive love that carried them through the good and hard times of life.
Her children were instructed to be faithful in their Christian walk, reading bible stories, listening to Christian radio broadcasts, taking them to church camps and youth events. Probably the most important was her consistent fervent prayer support for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Leona always emphasized the importance of family heritage. Sunday afternoons would be spent at grandparents’ homes with relatives. Many family vacations would be spent visiting relatives who lived in other communities and family reunions were always events that needed to be attended. Relatives who came to visit were always welcome to stay at their house. These were special times to foster the importance of extended family ties and heritage.
These past several years Leona and David have had the privilege of residing at Liberal Springs. These have been special times of making new friends and sharing activities with residents and staff.
Leona enjoyed hobbies and activities including crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, playing dominos and cards, she was very a competitive player, sewing, gardening, and reading.
Leona enjoyed being a member of the Adams Extension Homemaker Club, participating in crafts, cooking, club meeting and fair projects. She worked part-time at the Adams Post Office. She spent several years volunteering at the Liberal Et Cetra Shop. She was also active with the Hooker Senior Citizens, attending dinners when possible.
She was preceded in death by four sisters, Elizabeth Fast, Edna Classen, Martha Friesen and Maria Schroeder and three brothers, William Friesen, Leroy Friesen and Leland Friesen.
Survivors include her husband David K. Schroeder of Liberal, Kansas, her son Gary and Karen Schroeder of Dayton, Washington, her daughter, Vernelle and Wilbur Unrau of Wolf Point, Montana, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 24, 2012 at the Mennonite Brethren Cemetery near Adams and a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Mennonite Brethren Church in Adams, Oklahoma with Rev. Odie Nunley officiating. Services are directed by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Inc. in Hooker, Oklahoma.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the David and Leona Memorial Fund to provide scholarships for college education and may be left at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Ok 73945.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsbrothersfuneralhome.com
