In Memory of Thelma Schroeder

Thelma Ann (Tiefenthaler) Schroeder, age 97 of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away Monday, October 6, 2025, at Golden Horizons Assisted Living in Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt, Iowa. Father Joseph Dillinger will officiate. Committal will follow in the St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery in Odebolt, Iowa. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 10, 2025, at the St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt, Iowa. 

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Thelma Ann (Tiefenthaler) Schroeder was born on January 1, 1928, in Breda, Iowa, to Herb and Martha (Derner) Tiefenthaler. She attended 1^st grade at a country school by Auburn then went to St. Bernards in Breda for 2^nd grade so she could make her First Communion. She stayed with her grandparents in Breda through the week and went home on the weekends. She then went back to the country school through the 8^th grade. Thelma started high school in Auburn but had to drop out before her freshman year was over because she had to stay home to care for her brothers and sisters while her mother was ill. When Thelma was 18 years old, her family moved to a farm near Odebolt. On October 10, 1950, she married the love of her life, Darrell Michael “Speed” Schroeder, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Odebolt and together they had 10 children. After 50 years on the farm, they retired to a home in Odebolt. In October of 2023 they celebrated their 73^rd Anniversary. Thelma moved to Golden Horizons Assisted Living on October 1, 2025. 

Thelma worked at the grocery store in Odebolt before staying home on the farm to care for the kids, keeping the house and clothes clean, and was a great cook. No one could butcher and clean chickens like her. 

Many vacations with the family, traveling out west buying cattle with Speedy, ballroom dancing, playing cards, square dancing, and spending time with family were some of her favorite things to do. Her greatest joy was when her kids and grandkids stopped for a visit. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church and guild in Odebolt, the Tuesday Club and different card clubs, she was also active in getting the museum relocated to its current home. Lots of love, patience, and a great love of God got her through the last 97 years. 

Survivors include 9 children: Slim (Mary) of Odebolt, Gary (Karen) of Lake View, Mike (Vicki) of Odebolt, Leon (Barb) of Lake View, Dan (Cindy) of Odebolt, Mary (Mark) Currie of Storm Lake, Janet (Vince) Cannon of Platte City, MO, Kristie (Bob) Warnemunde of Carroll, Bob of Scranton, and honorary son Chad (Shanda) Mohr of Denison, IA; 27 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren; sister Kathy Kros; sisters-in-law Lillian Schroeder, Marge Albrecht, and Mary Schroeder; brothers-in-law Tom Kros and Neal Johnson; nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many friends. 

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Darrell “Speed” Schroeder (2023); her parents Herb and Martha Tiefenthaler; parents-in-law Frank and Louise Schroeder; son Frankie; grandson Steven Schroeder; granddaughter Heather Schroeder; brothers Mark Tiefenthaler (in infancy), Bob Tiefenthaler, and Leonard Tiefenthaler; sisters Verna Mae Schwaller and Karen Johnson; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Tiefenthaler, Janice Tiefenthaler, Nona Mae O’Conner, and Ardis Schroeder; brothers-in-law Don Schwaller, Gus Schroeder, Norman Schroeder, Clayton Schroeder, Joe Heidenreich, Bert O’Conner, and Dale Albrecht.