Mary Schrader

MARY JANE SCHRADER

Cedar Rapids

Mary Jane Schrader, 96, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2016, of natural causes in San Francisco, Calif.

Mary was born Nov. 7, 1919, and raised on a farm near Haverhill, Iowa. She lived most of her life in Iowa, including Marshalltown, Iowa City, Monticello, Cedar Rapids and West Des Moines. She recently relocated to San Francisco to be closer to her family.

A woman of solid Midwestern values and a consistently sunny outlook on life, she was unfailingly devoted to her family and deeply loved her sons and grandsons.

She was a skilled bridge player, an aficionado of puzzles and a devoted fan of her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. She participated as a proud member of both Cedar Rapids and Des Moines chapters of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

Well-liked by many, she will be remembered for her ever-present charm and humor, good cheer and warm smile. Her daughter-in-law, a hardened native New Yorker, observed that Mary was the most optimistic person she had ever met.

As a child, Mary often ventured near and peeked into the blacksmith shop owned by her grandfather, Matthew Edel, in the town of Haverhill. Many years later, she and other descendants of her grandfather agreed to donate that shop to the State of Iowa. It is now owned and exhibited to the public by the State Historical Society of Iowa and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Surviving her are sons Stephen of San Francisco and Scott and his wife, Yunah Kim, of Seoul, Korea; and her two grandsons, Theodore and Alexander Schrader.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Rose Edel; her sisters, Helen and Bernice; and her loving husband of 48 years, Rex Schrader.

The family deeply thanks Jo Stewart and the staffs of Wesley Acres in Des Moines and Vintage Coventry in San Francisco for their support and caring of Mary during her later years.

A memorial service to celebrate Mary's life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 8, at the San Francisco Columbarium.

Memorial contributions may be made to the State Historical Society of Iowa for the benefit of the Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop and House. Checks made payable to the Iowa Historical Foundation referencing that the contribution is for the benefit of the Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop in honor of Mary Jane Schrader may be sent to the Iowa Historical Foundation, 600 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50319; a gift form also is available online at https://iowaculture.gov/history/get-involved/support.