Jeanette Margaret Schroeder

In lieu of gifts and flowers please direct memorial contributions to Plymouth County Life Skills, Priest Fund for Education, or Catholic Charities. 

Jeanette Margaret (Sitzmann) Schroeder, age 85, of Le Mars, IA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday July 27, 2024. 

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 1, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, IA with Father Bill McCarthy officiating and Deacon Doug Heeren assisting. Burial will follow at St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery in Oyens, IA. Visitation with family present will be 4-7 p.m on Wednesday. There will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and vigil prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Visitation will resume from 9:30 to 10:15 Thursday morning at the church. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. www.fischfh.com

She was born December 1, 1938, daughter of Raymond and Leona (Nuebel) Sitzmann and was baptized at St. Joseph’s Church-Neptune, IA.

Jeanette was the second of nine children. She attended Union School through 8th grade and then graduated from Gehlen High School in 1957. After high school, she worked as a secretary for Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative. 

On May 19, 1960 she married Mark Raymond Schroeder, son of Clarence and Florence (Warborg) Schroeder, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church-Neptune, IA. They made their home south of Oyens. 

Jeanette took pride in her beautiful flower gardens and garden produce. She enjoyed sewing clothing for her children and making quilts. Her family, especially grandchildren, loved her cooking and baking. Jeanette enjoyed time with her grandchildren and going to their activities. She liked spending time with her birthday club, card club and quilting friends. 

Jeanette was a lifelong member of St. Catherine’s Church in Oyens, IA where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and St. Catherine’s Guild. She donated her time and talents to multiple church events. She was a blood donor to Life Serve, 4-H leader, and volunteered at the Plymouth County Fair. She lived her life unselfishly and in death her memory will live on as she chose to be an organ donor.

She was awarded the Bell Ringer Award by the Plymouth County Pork Producers and traveled with Mark to cities to promote pork. In 2006, Mark and Jeanette, along with their son’s families proudly accepted the title of Master Pork Producers. They also received the Century Farm award in 2018 presented at the Iowa State Fair. 

Left to cherish her memory are Mark, husband of 64 years; children, Kay (Craig) Olson of Omaha, NE, Dean (Linda) Schroeder of Remsen, IA, Larry Schroeder of Omaha, NE, Roger (Geri Lynn) Schroeder of LeMars, IA, Alyce (Brett) Bell of Ames, IA, Rick (Stacey) Schroeder of LeMars, IA; grandchildren, Morgan (Chad) Newman, Wade and Joshua Olson, Bryan (Crystal) Schroeder, Kimberly (Cam) Kuchel and Camden Schroeder, Jesslyn (Sean) Song, Alec, Blake and Austin Bell, Owen and Gracie Schroeder; step-grandchildren, Stephanie (Jeff) Wagenaar, Zach (Kelly) Specht, Bethany (Dawson) DeBoer, Ben (Jenna) Specht; great-grandchildren, Cooper, Brynnlee and Drake Schroeder, Jack and Charley Rae Newman, Easton, Joanna and Natalie Kuchel and Lena, Jameson and Nora Wagenaar, and Harlan DeBoer.

Surviving sisters, Mary Ann (Don) Krogman, Kathleen (Bob) Shaw; brothers, Cletus (Sharon) Sitzmann, Fred (Susie) Sitzmann, Steve Sitzmann and Kevin (Joann) Sitzmann; sister-in-law, Jolynn Sitzmann; In-laws, Bill (Janys) Schroeder, Doris (Bob) Gengler, Betty (Dick) Homan and numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Leona Sitzmann, and in-laws Clarence and Florence Schroeder; brothers, Gerald and Leon Sitzmann; brothers-in-law, Darrel and Lyle Schroeder; sisters-in-law, Delores, Barb and Kathy Sitzmann and Marge, Cloette and Phyllis Schroeder; grandsons, Andrew and Robert Mark Schroeder.

Casket Bearers will be Jeanette’s grandsons, Bryan and Camden Schroeder, Wade and Joshua Olson, Alec, Blake and Austin Bell and Owen Schroeder.