Obituary of Elizabeth Ann Schiller

Elizabeth (Betty) A. Schiller of Newton passed away at her home at Park Centre in Newton, Iowa, on March 24, 2015, from complications of COPD. The family will greet friends from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 27, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1900 N. 4th Ave. E. in Newton. Betty was born November 10, 1932, to Elmer and Mildred Fuller in Moline, Illinois. She graduated from Rock Island High School in 1950, where she was part of the "Nifty Nine," then attended Western Illinois University. While still attending college, she married her long-time sweetheart, Jerry Schiller, on December 29, 1951. They were blessed with seven children. She dedicated many of her early years to raising her family; cooking, cleaning, polishing little white shoes every afternoon, doing tons (literally) of laundry, sewing clothes and Halloween costumes, making birthdays, Christmas and every holiday special, attending conferences and concerts and teaching her children important life lessons – like clipping coupons. After her youngest child entered school and due to her love of books, Betty worked at the library for several years before beginning a career at Newton Mfg. Co, where she was employed from 1974 through 1989 before retiring as secretary to the President. While at Park Centre, her home since 2009, she enjoyed lunches with the JULIET's, attending the Newton Community Theatre and the Jasper Country Concert Association and a variety of other activities. You seldom saw her without her crocheting, making baby afghans and lap robes which she generously donated to a variety of local charities. Betty is survived by her children Jo (James) Moses and Susan (Jerry) Fortune, both of Newton, Rick (Tamie) Schiller of Davenport, Lisa (Tom) Swank of Coal Valley, IL, Sandy (Scott) Rogers of Altoona and Sara (Dave) Sielaff of Lincoln, IL. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren; Andrea Jansen and Scott Smead of Newton, Shaun Fortune of Harrisburg, PA, Sarah Schroeder of Davenport, Drew Schiller of Chapel Hill, NC, Kate Kohtz of St. Joseph, MI, Kendall Swank of Rock Island, IL, Ethan Rogers and Kristin McCue of Des Moines, Curt Rogers of Ankeny, IA and Jim Sielaff of Lincoln, IL., along with thirteen great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. Other survivors are her brother, Bob (Diane) Fuller of New Sharon, sister-in-law, Jill (Jerry) Rowland of Queen City, MO, and many nieces and nephews, and her "adopted sister" and best friend, Ella Hendershot. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a daughter, LuAnn Schiller and a granddaughter, Willie Schiller. Memorials in Betty's memory may be given to Park Centre's Good Samaritan Fund or the Skiff Medical Center Auxiliary. Condolences may be sent Pence-Reese Funeral Home, 310 N. 2nd Ave. E., Newton, IA 50208.