Schneberger, Helen Kathleen 'Kay' (Leeney)

Helen Kathleen “Kay” (Leeney) Schneberger, 88, formerly of Iowa City, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, in Waconia, Minn. Kay was a resident of St. Benedict Senior Community in Monticello, Minn.

Kay was born June 26, 1925, in Holbrook, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Laurine (Donahue) Leeney. She was a 1943 graduate of St. Patrick's High School as well as a graduate of Brown's Business College. She was employed by Northwestern Bell Company, Dr. William Bywater, and the University of Iowa. She was also a volunteer at St. Benedict's Senior Community. She married Robert Schneberger in 1948.

Kay has lived in Centerville, Iowa, Fredricksburg, Iowa, Mason City, Iowa, Clear Lake, Iowa, Galva, Ill., Austin, Minn., and Iowa City. In recent years she moved to Monticello, Minn., to be near family. She was a member of St. Henry's Catholic Church in Monticello, Minn., and a member of The Catholic Daughters. She was a devoted Catholic; her faith gave her great comfort. Kay had an extreme love and devotion for praying the rosary.

Kay was an avid card player, especially bridge, reader and a cherished friend to many. She experienced the joy of living, laughing, storytelling and devoting her life to her family. She was known by all as a lady of excellent taste, having a flair for fashion.

Kay is survived by her six loving children, one son, and five daughters, Sandra (David) Holmes of Herrin, Ill., Theresa (Terry) Shields of Galva, Ill., Joseph (Judy Liautaud) Schneberger of Oak Grove, Minn., Nancy (David) Grice of Fort Collins, Colo., Laurie (Bill) Bartlett of Big Lake, Minn., and Mary Villagran of Alexandria, Minn.

She is also survived by 13 grandchildren. Angela Holmes, John (Alicia) Holmes, Matthew Grice, Michael Shields, Brooke (Lee) Schablin, Elizabeth Bartlett, Kellie Bartlett, Tanya Dubrovsky, Alex (Emily) Dubrovsky, Molly (Aaron) Heit, Aaron Schneberger, Alexa Hardy and Frankie Hardy; and three great-grandchildren, David Young, Lia Young and William Schablin.

Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of her life.

She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Phil Rocca of Iowa City, and several nieces and nephews.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Laurine (Donahue) Leeney; her husband, Robert Schneberger, and her siblings, Frank and Donald “Gene” Leeney, Dolores Hanrahan, Rose Mary Rogers, Shirley Rocca, Marlene Fuhrmeister and Lucille Boyd.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the church, where a rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be Mass Offerings or the donor's choice.

Published Aug. 26, 2013, in The Gazette