Carolyn Schroder

Carolyn Schroder, daughter of George and Helen (Schuning) McKnabb, was born on December 23, 1932, at home in Earling, Iowa. She attended rural country school in Earling, Iowa and graduated from Harlan High School in 1950. Following high school graduation, Carolyn attended JEMH and graduated with her nursing degree in 1953. She was baptized at the Harlan Methodist Church and was a long-standing member of the Silver Creek United Methodist Church in Hancock, Iowa.

On May 8, 1954, Carolyn was united in marriage to Paul Schroder at the Harlan Methodist Church. To this union they raised 4 children: Kathy, Sharon, Mark and Marsha. Carolyn worked as an RN at Myrtue Memorial Hospital and then went on to become a mom and a house wife, which she so dearly loved.

Carolyn was always involved in various different organizations. She was a Red Cross volunteer, was a Sunday School teacher, and a VBS teacher at Silver Creek. She loved to tend to her large vegetable garden and would be outside any chance she had. Carolyn enjoyed spending time at their cabin in Okoboji and finding bargains at garage sales. Being a grandma and great-grandma was one of her favorite things. She made many Christmas outfits for the grandchildren over the years.

On Friday, May 29, 2026, Carolyn passed away peacefully having attained the age of 93 years, 5 months and 6 days. She was preceded in death by her parents George and Helen; husband of 68 years, Paul Schroder, who passed in 2022; sister Inez Klindt-Draeger and husband Bernard; brothers-in-law Norman Nielsen; and Dwayne Schroder and wife Dorothy.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Kathy Grote of Council Bluffs, IA; Sharon (Paul) Maassen of Omaha, NE; Mark (Lyla) Schroder of Hancock, IA; Marsha (Brent) Bierbaum of Griswold, IA; 11 grandchildren: Michelle (Mike) Bakker; Aaron (Angie) Grote; Kristen Jacobsen; Angie (Mike) Frink; Matt Maassen (Sarah Colby); Steve (Megan) Schroder; Chad Schroder; Jonathan (Katie) Schroder; Rachel (Ryan) Hoffman; Adam (Megan) Bierbaum; Joshua (Logan) Bierbaum; 18 great-grandchildren: Ryne, Tryce, Dominic, Julia, Emma, Logan, Ryder, Thomas, Clara, Avis, Connor, Nolan, Graham, Reagan, Austin, Nathan, Addison, Levi; sisters Mildred Nielsen of Harlan, IA; Betty (Eugene) Juhl of Harlan, IA; other family and many friends