Betty Lou Schneider Ward
Betty Lou Schneider Ward, age 80, of Quincy, Illinois and Mesa, Arizona, died on February 9, 2009 in Mesa, Arizona. She was born on November 17, 1928 to Charles and Cleota (Eppers) Jones in Keokuk, Iowa. She married Joseph G. Schneider on February 4, 1948 in Keokuk, Iowa. He preceded her in death on August 20, 1980. She later married Norman J. Ward on May 15, 1987 in Quincy, Illinois. He survives.
Betty graduated from Keokuk High School in 1947. She retired from the Western Catholic Union as an underwriting assistant in 1988.
She was a member of the Church of St. Peter and a former member of St. Francis Catholic Church where she had served as a Eucharistic Minister, a choir member, and was involved with RCIA. She has also been involved in Cursillo, Quest and T.E.C. She was a member of Toastmasters International and a member of the Myositis Support Group in Arizona.
Betty was a winter resident of Mesa, Arizona. She enjoyed traveling, reading, making crafts, and spending time with family. She was a proud and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt.
In addition to her husband Norman, she is survived by:
THIRTEEN CHILDREN: Mike (Pat) Schneider of Jacksonville, Loretta (Tom) Goehl; Sue Kelley; Kathi (Roger) Rosenkoetter all of Quincy, Anne (Stephen) Penrose of St. Louis, MO, Barb Fusselman ; Mary Jo (Tim) Terwelp all of Quincy, Pat (Steve) Owens of Liberty, Julie Flynn of Quincy, Amy (Steve) Roberts of OʼFallon, MO, Jim (Barb) Ward of Mechanicsburg, PA, Susan (Leonard) Craft of Liberty, and Ken (Amy) Ward of Gilbert, AZ;
THIRTY GRANDCHILDREN;
TWENTY THREE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN;
ONE SISTER: Peggy (Russell) Bair of Camp Point;
ONE BROTHER: Jack (Darlene) Jones of Keokuk, IA;
FOUR BROTHERS-IN-LAW: Bob Schneider of Elgin, John (Jean) Schneider, Jim Schneider all of Keokuk, IA; and Eugene Ward of Erie, PA,
ONE SISTER-IN-LAW: Norma Jean (Walter) Mack of Erie, PA.
Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Joseph; a daughter, Christine; a son-in-law, Jay Kelley; one brother, Robert Jones; four sisters-in-law, Helen Schneider, Margaret Jones, Lillian Schneider, and Marilyn Ward; and a brother-in-law, Richard Jones.
Funeral services will be Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter, Rev. John Burnette officiating.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery
Visitation will be Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a parish prayer service at 5:00 p.m. at Duker & Haugh.
Memorials are suggested to the Myositis Association.
Dear Family,
When Uncle Joe died, I was 11 and didn’t want to go to the funeral. My Mom said, “Don’t you see? Uncle Joe has all those girls of his own and still has a special place in his heart for you?” Yes, I did see, and I’ve always seen Aunt Betty in the same light. They, and I believe Norm too, have been a shining example that the more love you give, the more you have to give, and the more you receive–a true abundance. With all my being, I’d like to be there, and Aunt Betty will remain forever in my heart. Love and Prayers, Tina
I’m so sorry for your loss. I remember Betty and Joe when they lived up on the corner from my family on Johnson Street. Mike and I started kindergarten together and I remember Loretta. The other children were younger and since I was only 5 when you moved I don’t remember much about the other children. We do have some pictures in our photo album of Mike and myself heading out to school. I also know your uncle Jim and John from here in Keokuk. From the obituary I could tell your mom was a wonderful and active part in the community and her church.
She will be remembered and missed by many.
I knew Betty when she and I were in Uptown Toastmasters in Quincy. She was always friendly and helpful to me and the other Toastmasters members. Her kindness will live on in those of us who knew her. I will miss her.
Please know that my prayers are with all of you. Bette was a great friend to me and co-mother to my daughter Amy. I will miss her cards and updates to her travels with Norm and my visits with her when I was in Arizona. Norm, my love and prayers are with you. Your loss is understood by those of us who have gone through it. With the love of our family and friends and most of all the Lord’s we do surive- though at times we don’t want to. We must be strong for our kids. You have many friends and I am blessed to be among them. Love to all. Gloria