"Leona was such a sweet lady. I got to take care of her while she was at sunnybrook. She will be dearly missed."
In loving memory of
Leona Mae Schmeiser
November 10, 1927 - December 14, 2018
Leona Mae Schmeiser, 91, of West Burlington, died Friday, December 14, 2018 at the Great River Hospice House.
Born November 10, 1927 in Des Moines County, IA, she was the daughter of Campbell William and Anna Ruth (Wehage) Granaman. She married Robert John Schmeiser October 15, 1966 at Salem Lutheran Church in Des Moines County, Iowa. He died April 12, 1981.
Leona graduated from Sperry High School and received her B.A. degree in Education from Iowa Wesleyan College and Master's Degree in Corrective Reading from Northeast Missouri State College. Mrs. Schmeiser taught school for 43 consecutive years, retiring in 1989. She planned and implemented the first corrective reading program for the West Burlington School system.
She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. She served as a past council member, Sunday school teacher, Bible School teacher and on the Evangelism Committee. She was a former member of the West Burlington Education Association, ISEA and NEA, having served offices on the local level; past International Reading Association, state, and local member, having served as local president; Alpha Delta Kappa, Iowa Sigma Chapter; and charter member of the W.E. Arnold Memorial Scholarship Board.
Survivors include one brother, Lester Henry Granaman from Sperry, IA; one sister, Doris Ann Housman from Burlington, IA; nephews, Glenn Granaman, Gary Housman and Jeff (Kathy) Housman, Butch Schmeiser and Lee Edwin Schmeiser and Bill Siefken; Nieces Gail (Herb) Murry and Mary (Mike) Permann, Debbie Schmeiser, Nancy Baugher; great-nephews, Richard McCauslin, Layton Housman, Kelton Granaman and Ben Schmeiser; great-nieces, Kelli, Jennifer, and Stephanie McCauslin, and Angel Oak and Great-Great Nephews and Nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Pastor Kathleen Wohlers will officiate. Interment will be in Salem Lutheran Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for Salem Lutheran Cemetery and Peace Lutheran Church.
Tributes
"Mrs. Schneider was my 3rd grade teacher in West Burlington. She was tough, demanding, but fair and a genuinely nice person...and a great teacher! If you were observed to be "clock watching" you were most certainly be assured that "time will pass, but will you?" "
"Miss Granaman, as I knew her, was my 3rd grade teacher at West Burlington. I remember she introduced me to Winnie-the-Pooh and fractions. She was one of my favorite teachers. "
"Mrs. Schmeiser was my 3rd grade teacher. I remember a sign she had posted next to the clock in the classroom. It read "time will pass will you"? The sign was an unspoken reminder to stay focused on the task at hand. One of many other great memories created by one very special teacher. Mrs. Schmeiser was tough but loved her students. Thank you for making a difference in my life. You will be missed?"
"Leona was my third grade teacher at West Burlington. She was strict, but fair. She was a friend of my family and I am proud to say she became my friend in adulthood. She expressed her faith in my ability and encouraged me to get involved in the Salem Cemetery Association. I hope I never disappointed her. She was a kind and loving person. She took great pride in her nieces and nephews. She will be missed by so many. "
"Though I will be there on Monday, I wanted to say how much Leona meant to all of us. She was a wonderful, loving, sincere, and genuine person. We are all better because we knew her and will most certainly be dearly missed. "