KEOTA- Mary Elaine Schulte, age 81, of Keota, died Monday, October 22, 2012, at Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa.
Elaine was born March 31, 1931, in Sigourney, to Raynald and Regina (Shannon) Smith and graduated from Sigourney High School. On February 28, 1949, she married Robert Schulte at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney. The couple lived in the Harper and Keota communities their entire married lives, where Elaine worked at the Keota Post Office and Maplewood Manor for many years. She was a member of Holy Trinity Parish – St. Mary Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. Elaine enjoyed her flower gardens, genealogy and being with her children and grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed by her husband: Robert of Keota; four children: John Schulte of Harper, Lori Schulte of Ottumwa, Dan (Amy) Schulte of Keota and Debra Schulte of Oskaloosa and five grandchildren: Ryan and Lauren Schulte and Abby, Jillian and Jaime Schulte. She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter: Jackie Rees.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 26, 2012, at Holy Trinity Parish – St. Mary Catholic Church in Keota, with Rev. Charles Fladung officiating. Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemeteries – St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Harper. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2012, where there will be a wake service at 5:00 p.m.
A memorial fund has been established for the Wilson Memorial Library or Holy Trinity Parish. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Elaine and her family. Condolences may be e-mailed at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
