Merna Jean Schroeder

Merna Jean Schroeder, 99, was called to her Heavenly home on February 17, 2026 after passing away peacefully surrounded by her family. A private family burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton.

 Merna was born on November 3, 1926 to August and Fleta (Dreyer) Schmitt.  When Merna was 7 years old, her mother and identical twin sister died.  Their children, Merna and Loren Schmitt were then raised by her 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.  Two children were born to them, a daughter, Jeri, anad a son, James.  Donald passed away in 1955 in a tractor accident, so Merna attended beauty school and operated a beauty shop in her home for 20 years.  She then worked for Sukup Mfg. for 16 years and retired in 1993.  In 2018 Merna moved to The Villages in Marion, Iowa to be closer to her family.

Left to cherish Merna’s memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Jeri and Joe McGillicuddy of Cedap 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.

Preceding Merna in death were her husband Donald, her parents, her step-mother Ethel Schmitt, and her son James Donald Schroeder.

A private family burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield at a later date.

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.