Dorothy Schechinger
January 4, 1925 — August 11, 2013
Dorothea Mary Ann Schechinger �Dorothy� was born on January 4, 1925 to Charles and Veronica (Tracy) Matthiessen on a farm northwest of Persia, Iowa. She grew up on a farm one mile north of Shelby, Iowa. She enjoyed growing up on the farm, except for milking the cows - she always told us stories of how that was her least favorite chore and how Gene would squirt her and the girls with the cows milk.
Dorothy attended school at Shelby and went on to become a teacher. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse for grades one through eight and loved teaching children.
On October 6, 1954, Dorothy was united in marriage to Valentine John Schechinger. She would always talk about how she and Valley first met at a dance. They had four children which they loved unconditionally: Gerard, Mary, Mark, and Monte.
One of Dorothy�s favorite vacations was going to Okoboji with her family. She loved her animals on the farm, especially her collie dogs. She had some of the most beautiful collies in the area. Her favorite collie story was that of Mighty Mac how she sold him to a family in Red Oak, Iowa. Well, Mac loved Dorothy so much that he found his way back home.
Dorothy loved to take walks in the evenings and say her rosary. Her faith has always been important to her and she lived to serve the Lord. She was our go-to person to get a boost of faith. Anytime we needed a prayer sent, we would call Dorothy. She would pray for rain, an �A� on a test, a good check up at the doctor, and anything that she got as a request no matter how small.
Not only did Dorothy talk to God frequently, she loved to gab on the phone to the point that her arm and ear went numb and tingling. There were many times that if you wanted to talk to her, you actually had to drive to her house so she would get off the phone - thirty minutes later.
Dorothy died at home on Sunday, August 11, 2013 having attained the age of eighty-eight years, seven months, and seven days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Valentine, son Gerard, grandson Preston, sister Teresa Martin, and brother Eugene Matthiessen.
She is survived by her daughter Mary and her husband Brian Arkfeld of Westphalia, Iowa; sons: Mark Schechinger of Estes Park, Colorado and Monte Schechinger and his wife Julie of Westphalia, Iowa; grandchildren: Jennifer and her husband Christopher Woodman of Papillion, Nebraska, Jared Arkfeld of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Kristin Arkfeld of Council Bluffs, Kyle Arkfeld of Westphalia, Brayton and Brylee Schechinger of Westphalia; her great-grandchildren: Bailee Arkfeld, Cael and Coleplyn Woodman; sisters: Geri and her husband Pete McGinn of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Rosemary Jacobsen of Omaha, Nebraska; brother-in-law Carl Martin of Walnut, Iowa; sister-in-law Lois Matthiessen of Omaha, Nebraska; other family members and friends.
Father John Dorton celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Boniface Church in Westpahlia, Iowa on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Kathleen Kohorst served as the accompanist with Maryalyce Dotzler singing. Serving as casket bearers were Randy Schechinger, Jim Chipman, Danny Schechinger, Pat Martin, Charlie McGinn, and Larry Reding. Interment was held at St. Boniface Cemetery.
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Dorothy attended school at Shelby and went on to become a teacher. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse for grades one through eight and loved teaching children.
On October 6, 1954, Dorothy was united in marriage to Valentine John Schechinger. She would always talk about how she and Valley first met at a dance. They had four children which they loved unconditionally: Gerard, Mary, Mark, and Monte.
One of Dorothy�s favorite vacations was going to Okoboji with her family. She loved her animals on the farm, especially her collie dogs. She had some of the most beautiful collies in the area. Her favorite collie story was that of Mighty Mac how she sold him to a family in Red Oak, Iowa. Well, Mac loved Dorothy so much that he found his way back home.
Dorothy loved to take walks in the evenings and say her rosary. Her faith has always been important to her and she lived to serve the Lord. She was our go-to person to get a boost of faith. Anytime we needed a prayer sent, we would call Dorothy. She would pray for rain, an �A� on a test, a good check up at the doctor, and anything that she got as a request no matter how small.
Not only did Dorothy talk to God frequently, she loved to gab on the phone to the point that her arm and ear went numb and tingling. There were many times that if you wanted to talk to her, you actually had to drive to her house so she would get off the phone - thirty minutes later.
Dorothy died at home on Sunday, August 11, 2013 having attained the age of eighty-eight years, seven months, and seven days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Valentine, son Gerard, grandson Preston, sister Teresa Martin, and brother Eugene Matthiessen.
She is survived by her daughter Mary and her husband Brian Arkfeld of Westphalia, Iowa; sons: Mark Schechinger of Estes Park, Colorado and Monte Schechinger and his wife Julie of Westphalia, Iowa; grandchildren: Jennifer and her husband Christopher Woodman of Papillion, Nebraska, Jared Arkfeld of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Kristin Arkfeld of Council Bluffs, Kyle Arkfeld of Westphalia, Brayton and Brylee Schechinger of Westphalia; her great-grandchildren: Bailee Arkfeld, Cael and Coleplyn Woodman; sisters: Geri and her husband Pete McGinn of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Rosemary Jacobsen of Omaha, Nebraska; brother-in-law Carl Martin of Walnut, Iowa; sister-in-law Lois Matthiessen of Omaha, Nebraska; other family members and friends.
Father John Dorton celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Boniface Church in Westpahlia, Iowa on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Kathleen Kohorst served as the accompanist with Maryalyce Dotzler singing. Serving as casket bearers were Randy Schechinger, Jim Chipman, Danny Schechinger, Pat Martin, Charlie McGinn, and Larry Reding. Interment was held at St. Boniface Cemetery.
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