Ella Mae Schaben
October 25, 1933 — May 2, 2015
Ella Mae Schaben, daughter of Henry and Cecilia (Klein) Zimmerman, was born October 25, 1933 in Portsmouth, Iowa. Ella Mae was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School graduating in 1951.
On April 17th, 1952 Ella Mae married Tony Schaben Jr. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa. Nine children were born to this union. Ella Mae was a wonderful mom and housewife on the farm northwest of Defiance. She later worked as a waitress at Jo-Mart Steakhouse and Fred’s Café in Denison.
In January of 1985, Tony & Ella Mae began marketing Ellie Mae’s Popcorn. She kept very busy with the family business until the business was sold in 1997. After enjoying some time off in retirement, Ella Mae worked at Variety Distributors in Harlan, Iowa until the spring of 2014.
Ella Mae loved to dance with Tony, together they took dancing lessons almost weekly for approximately 20 years. They had so much fun and were such a joy to watch. Ella Mae’s favorite televison show was of course “Dancing with the Stars.” Ella Mae also liked to try her luck at the casino, she enjoyed cooking and making sure everyone had enough to eat. Ella Mae truly enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Ella Mae died Saturday May 2, 2015, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa having attained the age of eighty one years, six months, and seven days. In addition to her parents Ella Mae is preceded in death by her husband Tony Schaben, daughter Marie Schaben and son Patrick Schaben; sister Velma Ring; brothers Jack Thielen; Harold Thielen; and Neil “Tubby” Zimmerman.
She is survived by her sons: Steve Schaben and his wife Karen of Denison, Iowa; Rick Schaben and his wife Laurie of Harlan, Iowa; Randy Schaben of Carroll, Iowa; Tim Schaben of Harlan; Neil Schaben and his wife Barbara of Denison, Iowa; daughters: June Schaben of Harlan and Jeanne and her husband Dick Bornhoft of Carroll, Iowa; eleven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; her brothers: Eldred “Zim” Zimmerman and his wife Geri of West Des Moines, Iowa and Richard Zimmerman of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters Janice and her husband Don Maker of Urbandale, Iowa; Carolyn Mortensen of Naples, Florida; two sister-in-laws, Jeanie Thielen of Vermont; and Bonnie Zimmerman of Indianola, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
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On April 17th, 1952 Ella Mae married Tony Schaben Jr. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa. Nine children were born to this union. Ella Mae was a wonderful mom and housewife on the farm northwest of Defiance. She later worked as a waitress at Jo-Mart Steakhouse and Fred’s Café in Denison.
In January of 1985, Tony & Ella Mae began marketing Ellie Mae’s Popcorn. She kept very busy with the family business until the business was sold in 1997. After enjoying some time off in retirement, Ella Mae worked at Variety Distributors in Harlan, Iowa until the spring of 2014.
Ella Mae loved to dance with Tony, together they took dancing lessons almost weekly for approximately 20 years. They had so much fun and were such a joy to watch. Ella Mae’s favorite televison show was of course “Dancing with the Stars.” Ella Mae also liked to try her luck at the casino, she enjoyed cooking and making sure everyone had enough to eat. Ella Mae truly enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Ella Mae died Saturday May 2, 2015, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa having attained the age of eighty one years, six months, and seven days. In addition to her parents Ella Mae is preceded in death by her husband Tony Schaben, daughter Marie Schaben and son Patrick Schaben; sister Velma Ring; brothers Jack Thielen; Harold Thielen; and Neil “Tubby” Zimmerman.
She is survived by her sons: Steve Schaben and his wife Karen of Denison, Iowa; Rick Schaben and his wife Laurie of Harlan, Iowa; Randy Schaben of Carroll, Iowa; Tim Schaben of Harlan; Neil Schaben and his wife Barbara of Denison, Iowa; daughters: June Schaben of Harlan and Jeanne and her husband Dick Bornhoft of Carroll, Iowa; eleven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; her brothers: Eldred “Zim” Zimmerman and his wife Geri of West Des Moines, Iowa and Richard Zimmerman of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters Janice and her husband Don Maker of Urbandale, Iowa; Carolyn Mortensen of Naples, Florida; two sister-in-laws, Jeanie Thielen of Vermont; and Bonnie Zimmerman of Indianola, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
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