Norma T. Schroeder

Norma Townsend Schroeder of Mason City passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, at the age of 95. Deacon Jim Wolf, OFS will preside over the memorial service on March 21, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. She will be inurned beside her husband at a private service at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Norma’s name to Hawkeye Harvest Foodbank of Mason City.

She was born in Bainbridge, Georgia on January 14, 1930, the youngest of four children. She attended the University of Iowa, where she met the love of her life, Walter Schroeder. After a four-year courtship, they were married on September 7, 1953 in Iowa City. She followed her husband as he served in the Army and later as he returned to Iowa City to earn his Juris Doctor degree. In 1957, she, her husband and young family moved to Mason City, where he established a law practice and they made their home for the rest of their lives.

Norma had a lifelong love of learning, literature and poetry. A Phi Beta Kappa member, she was an avid reader and published poet. She belonged to the Athenian and Maria Mitchell Study Clubs. She was active in the community, volunteering at the local food bank and serving as an election official. She also transcribed documents into Braille. She was an excellent cook; splendid Sunday dinners were a family tradition. Norma was a member of Holy Family Church and active in her church circle.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Walter. She is survived by her three children: Karen (Peter) Streit of Rochester, Minnesota; Dr. Paul (Lori) Schroeder of LeMars, Iowa; and Fred (Brenda) Schroeder of St. Peters, Missouri. She is also survived by seven grandchildren; Stefan (Meave) Streit of New York, New York, Karl Streit of Waconia, Minnesota, Allie (Justin) Heizer of Denver, Colorado, Sam Schroeder of Omaha, Nebraska, AJ (Irene) Schroeder of San Francisco, California, Will (Liz) Schroeder of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Nichole Schroeder of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and a great-granddaughter, Heidi Streit. She was preceded in death by her father, Hilton, mother, Libby, brothers, Phillip and Hilton, sister, Lucille, and her great-grandson, Francis Henry Streit.