Marvella Schaa

Sibley, IA 

     Marvella Schaa age 105 of Little Rock/Sibley, Iowa died Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the George Good Samaritan Society.

     Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, IA with Rev. Dale Lint officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Friday, October 11th at the church. Burial will follow the lunch/fellowship time at Gilman Township Cemetery at Ashton, IA.

     Marvella Mae (Ackerman) Schaa was born May 23, 1919, the daughter of Ed and Tena (Grave) Ackerman. She grew up on the family farm near Ashton, lowa, was baptized and confirmed at the Zoar Presbyterian church George, Iowa. She attended country school through the 8th grade. In her teenage years she assisted on the family farm and also worked for other neighboring farm families. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church Ashton and upon moving off the farm transferred her membership to the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley. Marvella married Gordon Frederick Schaa on February 7, 1939, at Zoar Presbyterian Church of rural George, Iowa. Following their marriage Gordon and Marvella settled on their farm 31/2 miles south of Little Rock, Iowa, where they raised their three children, Sandra, Frederick and Gloria. Marvella took pride in her responsibilities as a wife and mother. She maintained her family's home, helped with outdoor chores and over the years worked several jobs outside the home. She enjoyed gardening, baking, and providing for and serving others. She especially enjoyed the time spent together with all of her children and grandchildren and loved to entertain friends and family for coffee or meals. Over the years Gordon and Marvella also enjoyed playing cards with neighbors and friends, in their golden years Gordon and Marvella traveled to Germany, Hawaii, Branson, MO and wherever they could drive in the United States. After Gordon's passing in 1998 Marvella remained on the family farm until age 90. She then moved to Sibley and resided in her twin home until age 100, when she moved into the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in George. Marvella passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, October 3, 2024, age of 105.

    Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Sandra (Vernon) Freese, of Worthington, Minnesota, and Gloria (Orvis) Terhark of Blue Earth, Minnesota, seven grandchildren, Lisa (Glenn) Burnham, Lori (Jim) Schutte, Kathy (Dean) Oberloh, Jodi (Jim) Olson, Shane (Jennifer) Freese, Tyson (Kelly) Terhark, Marnie (Rob) Norman, 21 great grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren, sister-in-law Berdeen Ackerman, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

      Marvella was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; son, Frederick Schaa; daughter-in-law, Mary (Snuttjer) Schaa; granddaughter, Valerie Dawn Freese; her parents, Ed and Tena Ackerman; two brothers, Harvey and Marlyn Ackerman and two sisters, Verna (Ackerman) Bruns and Nellie (Ackerman) Bruns.